HISTORY OF 



MARSHFIELD 



By 



LYSANDER SALMON RICHARDS 



Author of "Vocophy, Indicating the Calling one is Best Fitted 

to Follow," "Breaking Up, or the Birth, Development 

and Death of our Planet in Story" and "The 

Universe, a Description in Brief." 




PLYMOUTH^ >%. 

The Memorial Pi^^ A^ 
1901-'';.J <5 



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Copyright, 1901. 
By Lysander Salmon Richards. 



Introduction. 



The author was somewhat surprised (and he thinks the 
reader will be also) to find when searching through libraries 
and records, for matter for this work, that Marshfield in the 
historic growth of the country, was not so much engaged in 
the processes of legal enactments, as in being the harbor, 
the stronghold and the home of our greatest men, who gave 
birth, stability and strength to the powerful government 
under which we live. Garrett in his book, "The Pilgrim 
Shore," in speaking of Marshfield says : "An old town that 
has been truly said, shares with Plymouth the interest that 
attaches to the early home of the Pilgrims." And sure 
enough, why should we not claim for Marshfield the second 
place in the history of the Pilgrims, as the home of the most 
prominent officials of that period, and the same may be said 
of Duxbury, but not of any other town. Before Marshfield 
became fixed as the name of our town, it was given three or 
four names, such as Missaucatucket, the name known by the 
Indians, "Green's Harbour," "Rexham," and before the 
landing of the Pilgrims, when Capt. John Smith sailed along 
the New England Coast, it was called "Oxford." 



Preface. 

Some time ago the President of the Massachusetts Agri- 
cultural College — Mr. Goodell — asked me to procure for 
him the History of Marshfield for his College. On making a 
thorough enquiry, I found there was no published History 
of Marshfield. Miss Marcia Thomas published some years 
ago a small book giving the genealogy of prominent per- 
sonages of Marshfield. Rev. George Leonard published a 
pamphlet entitled "Marshfield Sixty Years Ago." Hon. 
Wm. T. Davis of Plymouth embodied in a book entitled 
"History of Plymouth County," a sketch of Marshfield. 

It was with a feeling of regret that I was obliged to in- 
form Pres. Goodell of my inability to find a History of 
Marshfield for his College library. The thought then oc- 
curred to me, that in view of the prominence of Marshfield 
in the history of our country, in the days of the Pilgrims 
and of the Revolution, there should be at once such a history 
written and a peg driven as far as we have progressed, to 
preserve in a general and concise form, the events and occur- 
rences in the development of our Colonial town for the use 
and enlightenment of future generations. This is my ex- 
cuse for undertaking this work. 

Not having enjoyed the rare fortune of living in Colonial 
days among the Pilgrims, as a founder and promoter of a 
great government, I must make use of the accounts of them, 
and their doings, making such quotations as in my best judg- 
ment will mark the footprints of civilization in its march 



4 History of MarshHeld. 

through nearly three centuries of Marshfield's development. 
For fear of making the volume too voluminous, I have re- 
frained from putting in all the petty details of unimportant 
events, and rest content with an account of matters in gen- 
eral as they transpired. I have made a point of giving in 
this history the status of affairs in town as existing to-day, 
not so much for the benefit of the reader now living, as for 
the benefit of the generations to come, that they may become 
conversant with the affairs of the town as they exist at the 
beginning of the 20th century. 

L. S. RICHARDS. 
Marshfield HiUs, Massachusetts, U. S. A., 1901. 



Contents. 



CHAPTER I. 
Marshfield 9 

CHAPTER n. 
Peregrine White 13 

CHAPTER HI. 
Old Colonists' Deeds 16 

CHAPTER IV. 
Indian Lands and Deeds 19 

CHAPTER V. 
Beginning of Marshfield Town Records 24 

CHAPTER VI. 
Marriages among the Pilgrims 32 

CHAPTER VII. 
Punishments by the Pilgrims 34 

CHAPTER VIII. 
The Founder of Marshfield 38 

CHAPTER IX. 
The Menu of our Forefathers 47 

CHAPTER X. 
Town Record Selections 49 

CHAPTER XI. 
Preparations for King Phillip's War 53 

CHAPTER XII. 
Selectmen's Powers — The Indians and other Matters 56 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Dress of the Colonists — Scolding Women 64 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Our Pilgrim Fathers 66 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XV. 
Incidents of the Colonists 68 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Habits and Customs of our Forefathers 71 

CHAPTER XVII. 
North River Ferry Boats and other Matters 76 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
Town Record Selections 80 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Indians — Whipping Posts — Wolves and Lands 90 

CHAPTER XX. 
Churches 93 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Town Record Selections 98 

CHAPTER XXII. 
Stamp Act and other Matters 100 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
Tory Resolutions passed by the Town 102 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
Tories again in the Ascendent 105 

CHAPTER XXV. 
Preparations for the Revolution 106 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
It is now Patriots and Patriotism — Marshfield's Declaration of 

Independence 108 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
Prices of Home Products during the Revolution iii 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 
Gov. Josiah Winslow and others 114 

CHAPTER XXIX. 
British Soldiers quartered here among the Tories 117 

CHAPTER XXX. 
Marshfield Fathers of the Revolution 120 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
Town Record Selections 125 

CHAPTER XXXn. 
Ship Building in Marshfield 130 

CHAPTER XXXni. 
Captains Sailing on North River 131 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 
Ship Yards at Gravelly Beach and North River 134 

CHAPTER XXXV. 
Brooks & Tilden Ship Yard and other Yards 136 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 
Ferries in Alarshfield 140 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 
Town Record Selections 143 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
Public Schools 145 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 
Town Items I59 

CHAPTER XL. 
Fugitive Slave Law 163 

CHAPTER XLI. 
Daniel Webster's Death 165 

CHAPTER XLII. 
The Civil War 168 

CHAPTER XLIII. 
Town Record Selections I75 

CHAPTER XLIV. 
Marshfield Agricultural Society 177 

CHAPTER XLV. 
Clift Rodger's Free Library 181 

CHAPTER XLVI. 
Formation of the Grand Army Post 183 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XLVII. 
Stores — Tea Rock i86 

CHAPTER XLVni. 
Green Harbor Dike 189 

CHAPTER XLIX. 
Brant Rock 203 

CHAPTER L. 
Ventress Memorial Gift 206 

CHAPTER LI. 
Daniel Webster 208 

CHAPTER LH. 
The New Mouth of North River 212 

CHAPTER LHI. 
Marshfield Hills 219 

CHAPTER LIV. 
Railroad 220 

CHAPTER LV. 
Marshfield in its Corporate Capacity 222 

CHAPTER LVI. 
Cemeteries in Town — Streets 224 

CHAPTER LVn. 
Occupations — ^Trees on the Roadside 229 

CHAPTER LVni. 
Marshfield Items — Postoffices 231 



CHAPTER I. 

MarshHeld. 

Marshfield we find first mentioned in Colonial History — 
[Palfrey's N. E. His.] — in 1632, eight years before its set- 
tlement as a town. Plymouth was fast becoming an area 
too small for the farmer colonists of that town, hence some 
of the larger and more progressive landed proprietors began 
to look about them for larger fields, and passing through 
Duxbury they found in Marshfield not only extensive, but 
excellent pastures for their cattle, and this is undoubtedly the 
reason why the Standishes, the Aldens and the Brewsters 
settled in Duxbury, and the Winslows, the Whites, and the 
Thomases took up their abode at an opportune time in 
Marshfield. To prevent further scattering, Goodwin says 
"several grants of farm lands had been made [1632-3] at 
Cut River, which from its verdant shores became Green 
River." "It was thought no one would desire to live so far 
from Plymouth, and that even the employes would remain 
there only in the busy season of agriculture; but this plan led 
to another grievous dispersion under no less a leader than 
Edward Winslow (afterward Governor). A new church 
was necessarily conceded, and in 1640 the place became a 
town called Rexham, soon re-named Marshfield." In some 
other authorities we find its early name spelt Marchfeeld, 
and again Marshfeeld. The incorporation of Marshfield 
occurred in 1640. It was the eighth town incorporated in 
Plymouth Colony. Four towns were incorporated only 
the year before, in 1639, Duxbury being incorporated in 
1637, and Scituate in 1636. Duxbury was the third town 
incorporated. It is not known in history why it was given 
the name of Marshfield, but probably on account of the ex- 



Marshfield 11 



lo History of Marshfield. 

tensive marshes occupying 5,000 acres or more along its 
eastern borders. 

Owing to a great plague visiting the Aborigines on our 
coast a short time before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, 
the Indian population, which had been quite large, was 
greatly reduced by the scourge, so that when our forefathers 
landed, there were but few natives to oppose them if they 
had so desired, which, notwithstanding the general opinion 
that they did, the record of that period fails to prove. In 
the early days of the Pilgrims' existence on our coast, the 
Indians, for the most part, were hospitable, showing no signs 
of hostility, and acting with kindness and gentleness, which 
the Pilgrims reciprocated. A few hostile Indians, as with 
a few hostile whites of to-day, worried their neighbors. 
Our forefathers did not rob the poor Indians of their lands, 
as currently reported among our people from time immemo- 
rial, but paid for them, not large amounts to be sure, but 
satisfactory prices to the Indian nevertheless, in corn, 
blankets and trinkets. Our forefathers in Marshfield found 
the ground already tilled when they settled here. The In- 
dians cultivated corn, one of the greatest products of to-day, 
the 20th century. Into a hill of corn they put a couple of 
alewives, or other fish, and thus gave us of the 20th century 
a hint in the growth of this staple article; hence the Indian 
was the earliest user of commercial fertilizers. At the time 
of John Smith's voyage along our coast, years before the 
advent of the Pilgrims, he saw large and thrifty fields of 
corn grown by the "poor'' Indian. The country in Marsh- 
field and thereabouts, except on the marshes, was covered 
with a large growth of trees, chestnut, hickory, oak, maple, 
pine, also the hazlenut, beechnut, butternut, and shagbark. 
It was indeed pleasant for our forefathers to locate in a 
region where the strawberry, the raspberry, the blackberry, 
the huckleberry and the cranberry grew in abundance, and 
then they were delighted to find in their midst the mountain 




History of MarshHeld. 1 1 

laurel, the azalia, the rhododendron, the gentian, the asters, 
and the water Hly. Our North River to the sea furnished 
abundant cod, shad, hahbut, trout, herring, smelt, haddock, 
and pickerel. Again, they were blessed with a large supply 
of pigeons, geese, ducks, quail, partridge, woodcock, and 
wild turkey. Bears, wolves, and wildcats chiefly consti- 
tuted the dangerous animals, but they could hunt the moose, 
the deer, and the racoon for meat, and for fur, the beaver, 
the otter, the skunk, the sable, and the fox, and Marshfield 
at the beginning of the 20th century is yet troubled by foxes 
and racoons, who make their meals of chickens, 
ducks and geese in the farmer's poultry yard. 

Our Pilgrim fathers were not the first visitors to our 
shores; the Norsemen Lief and Eric explored the coast of 
New England as early as the year 1000, and called it Vine- 
land on account of the abundance of grape vines growing 
everywhere. Two or three years later Thorwald, a brother ,. 
of Lief, visited these shores, and sailing along Cape Cod |' | ^; 
Bay, discovered [in the words of Goodwin] "a fine headland, ."^ --' 
which drew from Thorwald the exclamation, 'This is a beau- 
tiful spot and here I should like to fix my dwelling.' Shortly 
after, being mortally wounded by natives, he gave the fol- 
lowing directions : 'Let me be buried on the beautiful head- 
land where I wished to fix my dwelling, put a cross at my 
head and one at my feet, and let the place be hereafter 
called "Krossaness." ' " "The Gurnet head, crested and 
crowned with two lighthouses, standing on the north side 
of the entrance to Plymouth Harbor, a narrow strip of land 
running from the mainland at Marshfield, answers well to 
the description of Thorwald's burial place, and here it is 
believed was the spot wh.ere the brave Captain was laid to 
rest with Christian rites," three or four centuries before the 
discovery of America by Columbus, "and the grave was 
marked with the symbol of his faith. In 1007 Thorfin 
Karlsefne, with his wife, Gudrig, and one hundred and sixty 



12 History of Marshiield. 

men, came with three vessels to our shores and remained 
three years. During this time a son was born to him, re- 
ceiving the name of Snorre; he was the first white child born 
on the American Continent and an ancestor of Thorwald- 
sen." 

Marshfield is bounded easterly by the North River, the 
ocean and the town of Duxbury, and southerly by Duxbury 
and Pembroke, westerly by Duxbury, Pembroke, and the 
North River, and northerly by the North River and the 
ocean. 



CHAPTER II. 

Peregrine White. 

When Bradford and a few other Pilgrims returned to the 
Mayflower, after exploring the country shortly after landing, 
the Pilgrim Republic says : "A son had been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Wm. White, and in token of the pilgrimage then in 
progress the little stranger was named Peregrine. He was 
destined to outlive every member of the company into which 
he was born; and after a youth unduly gay for his day and 
generation, even in the next century, long after Plymouth 
Colony had been merged in Massachusetts, a fine, hearty 
looking veteran of Marshfield used to be pointed out with 
great respect as Capt. Peregrine White, the first English 
child born in New England. It was in 1632 that Peregrine 
White went to Marshfield with his stepfather's family. In 
1636 he volunteered for the Pequod war. In 1642 he was 
ancient bearer (or ensign) of the train band, under Myles 
Standish. He was a member of the General Court and also 
a member of the Council of War. In 1648 he married 
Sarah, daughter of Wm. Bassett, by whom he had six chil- 
dren. She died in 171 1. He was very attentive to his 
mother, visiting her daily in his later years. He made these 
visits on a black horse and wore a coat with buttons the size 
of a silver dollar. He was vigorous and of a comely aspect 
to the last. In 1665, at the request of the King's commis- 
sioners, the General Court gave 200 acres of land to him, as 
the first white native in New England." His estate was 
held in the family through all the generations up to within 
two or three decades. It is now held and occupied, at the 
beginning of the 20th century, by Alonzo Ewell, who keeps 
upon it the largest flocks of poultry, ducks, geese and pigeons 

13 



14 History of MarshHeld. 

in Marshfield. Even at this late day, he is troubled with 
foxes, and has killed the past winter five of them. There is 
still growing, or was a few years ago, a shoot of the apple 
tree planted by Peregrine upon this place, and a portion of 
the timbers of the house occupied by Peregrine is still in 
existence in the dwelling of Mr. Ewell. Notwithstanding 
this place is among the earliest settled in Marshfield, the 
region thereabouts is perhaps the most sparsely inhabited of 
any village in town. It is two and a half miles north of the 
Webster place. Mr. White joined the church in his 78th 
year, and died in Marshfield in 1704, aged 84. His des- 
cendants were many and honorable. Notwithstanding he 
served as a soldier in the Indian wars and gained the title 
of Captain, he seems to have led a peaceful life, except that 
at one time we find in 1649 ^ ^^^- Hollaway and Peregrine 
White were indicted for fighting. We think that Hollaway 
must have been the aggressor, for we found elsewhere that 
"Hollaway was fined 5s. for abusing and provoking 
Sprague." Yet there is no doubt that our beloved towns- 
man was a lively, gay youth and kept things moving about 
him. The last direct descendant of Peregrine living on the 
place was Miss Sybil White, a maiden lady, who removed 
from there about a quarter of a century ago, as it was consid- 
ered unsafe for her in her old age to live there longer. A 
while before her departure from the home place, her brother, 
John White, carried on the farm with her, but he became in- 
sane and was removed to the hospital. It was after this 
event that she felt compelled to leave it and remove to the 
village of East Marshfield, now Marshfield Hills, some three 
or four miles distant. The author became a neighbor and 
was acquainted with this rather eccentric woman up to the 
time of her death. She was a good and pious woman. A 
short time before her death, she was a little worried because 
she knew of no near heir to whom she could leave her prop- 
erty, and finally she adopted a novel method of finding one. 



History of MarshHeld. 15 

She advertised in a Boston daily paper for an heir. A 
brother had left home in his early manhood and she had not 
the slightest knowledge of him or his children. In answer 
to her advertisement she received a number of letters. I 
would not dare to say how many, but there were nearly fifty, 
and out of this number there was one that impressed her as 
genuine, that of Ashton White, of Washington, D. C. He 
came here at her request, and at an interview the proofs he 
offered of his relationship were convincing to her. After 
he had returned to his post in Washington, in one of the 
departments, she made out her will, and at her decease, not 
a long while after, Mr. White (a nephew, as claimed) be- 
came the possessor of her well invested property, and al- 
though that was nearly 25 years ago, I have never heard 
doubted among her distant relatives, living at the Hills, 
that he was the rightful and only heir. He or his children 
are now living in Washington. She also left in her will 
some $800, in trust, to the selectmen of the town, the income 
or interest of which was to be spent in providing aid to 
worthy and destitute spinsters in Marshfield, and it has for 
these years following been so spent. There are many des- 
cendants of Peregrine White now living in Marshfield, but 
none on the old homestead. 



CHAPTER III. 

Old Colonists' Deeds. 

From the Plymouth Colony records I will select three or 
four copies of deeds in Marshfield, as follows : 

"27th September 1642 — Memorand: That Mr. Edward 
Winslow came into Public Court and did acknowledge That 
he hath absolutely and freely given, granted, enfeoffed and 
confirmed unto Peregrine White, his son in law, all & singu- 
lar those his lands lying at the Eele River wth all singular 
the apprtenences thereunto belonging and all his right title 
and interest of & into the same. To have and to hold all 
and singular the said land & wth their apprtences unto said 
Peregrine White his heirs and assignes for ever to the onely 
proper use and behoofe of him the said Peregrine White his 
heires and Assignes for evr." 

The following is a deed given to Robert Carver (a brother 
of the first Governor of the Colony, Gov. John Carver, said 
Robert Carver being the progenitor or ancestor of many 
Carvers now living in Marshfield) of a lot of land in Marsh- 
field at Green Harbor, near the Careswell place of Gov. Ed. 
Winslow, said Carver becoming an early settler in Marsh- 
field with Gov. Winslow and others. It reads : 

"The Xth of Septembr 1641. Memorand. That Ed- 
mond Hawes of Duxborrow doth acknowledge that for and 
in consideration of the sum of two thousand foote of Sawne 
boards to be delived and payed him by Robert Carver of the 
same Sawyer Hath freely and absolutely bargained and sold 
unto the said Robert Carver all those his Ten acres of up- 
land lyinge crosse Green's Harbor payth wth all his labors 
in & aboute the same wth all and singueler the apprtencs 
thereunto belonging and all his Right Title an interest of 

16 



History of Marshfield. 17 

and into the said prmisss. To have and to hold the said 
Tenn acres of upland & wth all and singuler the apprten- 
ences thereunto belonging unto the said Robte Carver his 
heirs and assignes for ever and to the onely per use and 
behoofe of him the said Robert Carver his heires and as- 
signes forever." 

''Bradford Govr 
"The seaventeenth day of March 1645. 

"Memorand the same day That Mr. Myles Standish and 
Mr. John Alden do acknowledged joyntly and sevally That 
for and in consideracon of the sum of three score and eleaven 
pounde and tenn shillings to them allowed in payment of 
the said account to Mr. John Beauchamp Have freely and 
absolutely bargained and sold unto Mr Edmond ffreeman 
All those their three hundred Acrees of vplands wth the 
meddowing therevnto belonging lying on the North side of 
the South River wth in the Township of Marshfield to 
them formly joyntly granted by the Court the second day 
of July in the fourteenth yeare of his said Maties now Raigne 
of England and all their Right title and interest jointly or 
seually of and into the said prmisss wth their apprtence & 
every part and pcell thereof To have & to hold the said 
three hundred Acres of upland wth the meddowes thereunto 
belonging wth all & every their apprtences unto the said 
Edmond fifreeman his heirs and assigns forever to the onely 
p per use and behoofe of him the said Edmond ffreeman 
his heires & As-ss forever." 

One half of the above estate was sold two years later to 
Arthur Rowland (who became a resident of Marshfield and 
one of the earliest) for twenty-one pounds sterling, part to 
be paid in money and part in corn and cattle. It will be 
seen that if the above half sold was equally as good as the 
other half, our Pilgrim fathers were not good speculators, 
for in the space of two years Mr. Freeman sold one half his 
purchase for fourteen and a half pounds less than he gave 
for it. 



1 8 History of Marshfield. 

The other half I find recorded in Plymouth Colony Rec- 
ords sold to Thomas Chillingsworth, Oct. 4, 1648. Three 
years after the original purchase of Myles Standish and John 
Alden in 1645, for the consideration of six and twenty 
pounds sterling, to be paid in money, corn and cattle. 

Another deed I find given Oct. 22, 1650, from Richard 
Church, of land lying in Marshfield on the south side of 
South River to John Dingley. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Indian Lands and Deeds. 

I will give a copy of some of the Indian lands owned and 
occupied by them before the landing of the Pilgrims, show- 
ing that our fathers were not the robbers and grabbers of 
land commonly supposed. 

"1674 Winslow Govr [Plymouth Colony Records.] 

"Know all men by these prsents that I Quachattasett 
Sachem of Mannomett doe acknowlidge my selfe fully sat- 
isfyed and payed therewith for and in consideration of a 
certaine tract or prsell of land sold by mee the aforesaid 
Quachattasett unto the aforesaid Will Hedge the which tract 
of land lyeth att a place by the English the blacke banke 
near unto break hart hill but called by Indians 'Moneche- 
han.' (Then follows a long description of boundary from 
top of hill to a certain pond, etc., etc., which I will not far- 
ther relate.) In witness whereof I the aforesaid Quachat- 
tasett have hereunto sett my hand and seale this sixt day of 
Aprill in the yeare one thousand six hundred seaventy and 
four. 

"The Mark of Quachattasett (here) 

"and a (seal) 

Signed, Sealed and delivered 
in the prsence off 
Richard Bourne 
Slier jasrubb Bourne 

(This deed was acknowledged 
by Quachattasett the 4th of the 
4th Month 1674 before mee 

John Alden, Assistant." 

19 



20 History of MarshHeld. 

The following is a document made and given by that 
renowned Indian chief, King Philip : 

"This may informe the honord court that I Phillip ame 
willing to sell land within this draught, but the Indians that 
are vpon it may live upon it still, but the land that is (waste) 
may be sold and Wattachpoo is of the same mind; I have 
set downe all the principall names of the land wee are not 
willing should be sold. ffrom Pacanankett 
the 24th of the 12th Month 1668 

"Phillip :P : his mark." 

Another deed from the Indians : 

"Know All men by the presents that I Quachattasett Sach- 
em of Manmomet doe sell vnto Hope a certaine pcell of 
Land lying att Pokasett; bounded as followeth viz: of land 
lying betwixt the Rivers or brookes called Annussanatonsett 
and another called Wakonacob; and soe downe to the sea 
and to the old way as they goe, to Saconeesett; all which 
the premises, I the aforesaid Quachattasett doe freely sell 
from mee and myne vnto him and his heirs foreur all privi- 
lidges, libertie of the sea and what ever is prmises; I doe 
confeirme this prsent day being the 9th of June in the yeare 
1664. 

Witness my hand (Signed) Quachattasett — his < mark. 
Witness Richard Bourne 

Paumpunitt — James Attukoo" 

In consulting the old Plymouth Colony Records, I find 
between two and three dozen conveyances of lands which 
the Indians in their own right possessed, and in quite a 
number of instances deeds were conveyed and recorded in 
the Plymouth Colony Records in Colonial times, conveying 
from father to son or from father to daughter, or to some 
friend, without any consideration or price, and these Indians 
had them recorded on the Plymouth record book, so that 
the lands they owned could be passed from one Indian to 
another and held sacred by the Colony as lands belonging 
to these Indians in severalty. 



History of MarshHeld. 21 

To show the caution the Plymouth Colony Court took, in 
seeing that the Indians should not be deprived unjustly of 
their lands, I have copied the following from the Plymouth 
Colony Records : 

"The Court understanding that some in an underhand 
way have given unto the Indians money or goods for their 
lands formerly purchased according to order of Court by the 
magistrates thereby insinuating as if they had dealt unjustly 
with them, it is enacted by the Court that some course be 
taken with those whom we understand have lately trans- 
gressed in that kind." 

"1665 Prence Govi"" 

"A deed appointed to bee Recorded. These prsents wit- 
nesseth that I Josias allias Chickaatabutt doe promise by 
these prsents to give vnto the Indians living vpon Catuhtkut 
River viz : Pompanohoo Waweevs and the other Indians 
liveing there ; that is three miles vpon each side of the River 
(excepting the lands that are alreddy sold to the English, 
either Taunton or Bridgewater and doe promise by these 
presents not to sell or give to any pte or pcell of land; but 
that the aforesaid Indians shall peaceably enjoy the same 
without any interruption from mee or by any means in any 
respect; the which I doe engage and promise by these 
prsents. witness my hand this 9th of June in the yeare 
1664. 
(Signed) 

Chickatabutt allias Josias I O his mark 
Wullanaumatuke Q his mark 
Witness 

Richard Bourne 
John Low O his mark" 

"These prsents Witnesseth 
that wee Adloquaupoke and Saseeakowett both of Onkowan 
doe sell vnto Nokanowitt of Ashumueitt a sertaine Hand 
with a longe beach adjoining to it, being neare vnto a place 
called Ouanaconwampith the Hand being called Ontsett, the 



22 History of MarshMd. 

which land wee convey from vs and our children for ever 
vnto the aforesaid Nokanowitt and his assignees for our 
acknowledging ourselves fully satisfyed and payed. Wit- 
ness our hands this twenty fourth of July 1666. 
Signed Saseeakowutt Q his mark 

" Adloquanpoke Q " " 

Witnesse 
Richard Bourne" 

In 1659. a large tract of land (says Baylies) on Taunton 
river was purchased of Ossamequin (Massasoit) and his 
son Philip (King Philip) and the squaw sachem Tatapanum, 
by several of the inhabitants of Duxbury and some of Marsh- 
field, which tract was afterwards included in Little Compton, 
Rhode Island, but no settlement was commenced for several 
years." 

I trust I have made it sufficiently manifest, by publishing 
the preceding conveyances of lands, and documents, that the 
lands the Indians occupied were not stolen by our Fore- 
fathers or taken possession of by right of occupation, or in 
the words of the frontiersman, by "squatting" on them. 

The King may have taken possession formally of lands 
as a whole in the various Colonies, as lands belonging to 
his kingdom, by conquest or discovery, the same as the 
United States took possession of Louisiana by right of pur- 
chase from Napoleon in the name of France, but the title 
of individual lands purchased and conveyed from individual 
to individual before or after the United States purchase did 
not change. Each man or woman severally and individually 
retained his acre or acres obtained by right of individual 
purchase, gift, or inheritance, undisturbed. 

Of course there were many lands and large tracts of land 
uninhabited and forsaken by the Indians at the time of the 
landing of the Pilgrim Forefathers, owned by nobody, and 
in the getting possession of these lands we find the following 
recorded in the Plymouth Colony Records : 

"A fforme to be placed before the Records of the feverall 



History of MarshHeld. 23 

inheritance & granted to all the King & fubjects inhabiting 
within the Governmt of New Plymouth. 

Wheras John Carver — Will. Bradford — Edw. Winslow — 
Wm. Brewster — Isaah Allerton and divers others, the sub- 
jects of our late Sov. Lord James, by the grace of God, King 
of Eng. Scot, ffrance & Irel. Defender of the ffaith &c. did 
in the eighteenth yeare of his raigne of Engl, ffrance & Ire- 
land, and of Scot 1. the fifty four which was in the yeare of 
our Lord God 1620 undertake a voyage into that pt of 
America called Virginia or New England, thereunto adjoin- 
ing, there to erect a plantacon & colony of English, intend- 
ing the glory of God, the inlargemt of his maties dominions 
and the speciall good of English nation. And whereas by 
the good providence of our gracious God the said John Car- 
ver — Will. Bradford. — Edward Winslow — ^Wm. Brewster 
— Isaac Allerton & their associates arived in New England 
aforesaid in the harbour of Cape Cod or Paomet scituate in 
New England, aforesaid, where all the psons entred into a 
Civill Combinacon being the eleaventh of Novb in the yeare 
afore mentioned as the subjects of our said Sov. Lord the 
King to become a Body-politick binding ourselves to observe 
such lawes & ordinances and obey such Officers as from time 
to time should be made & chosen for our wellordering & 
guidance, And thereupon by the favor of the Almighty began 
the first Colony in New England (there being then no other 
wthin the said Continent.) at a place called by the natives* 
Apaum a Z s Patuxet, but by the English New Plymouth. 
All wch lands being void of inhabitants, we the said John 
Carver — Will. Bradford Edward Wynslow — Wm. Brewster 
— Isaack Allerton the rest our Associates entrins: mto a 
league of peace wth Massassowatt, since called Woosame- 
quin Prince or Sachim of those pts. He the said Massas- 
sowat freely gave them all the lands adjacent to them & 
their heires forever, acknowledging himselfe content to be- 
come the subject of our Soveraigne Lord the king aforesaid, 
his heirs, successors," etc., etc. 



CHAPTER V. 

Beginning of MarshHeld Town Records at Town 
Clerk's Office. 

(I make only such selections of the Town Records as I 
think will interest the reader of this History.) 

"1640 — At the General 
Court held 2nd of March 1640 — "It is enacted by the Court 
that Green's Harbor shall be a Township and have all the 
privileges of a township that other towns have and that it 
shall be called by the name of Rexhame, but now Marsh- 
field." 

1643 — Sept. 27th At a Town meeting (in Marshfield) 
held the day & year above written it was agreed that there 
be a constant watch in the township, that is to say in four 
several quarters at Mr. Edward Winslows, at Mr. Wm. 
Thomas, at Mr. Thos Bournes & fourth at Robert Barkers. 
Whereas it is probable that imminent danger is near to the 
whole body of the English in this land, it is ordered at 
Present that four watches be maintained within this town- 
ship as above." 

"That a guard of two at least be maintained out of them. 
That a sentinel be maintained all day at the place of the 
guard. That foreasmuch as the Township consists of * 
* * * persons at present that therefore so long as the 
danger is like to continue viz : 14 days at least every man 
shall lodge in his clothes, with arms ready by his bedside 
that so he may be ready to give assistance according to 
need." "That in case an alarm be given by night from any 
other township, then every guard discharge only one piece 
but if anv alarm arise in our own Township then by two 
pieces at least and that then every person repair to his quar- 

24 



History of MarshUdd. 25 

ters or place of guard, and half of the strength of the guard 
make their particular quarters and the other go to relieve 
that other quarter that is in danger. That this watch begin 
this present night, being the 27th of this present month & 
continue until further notice. That on the Sabbath days 
these guards be continued, and that the rest of those that are 
liable to bear arms bring them to the place of worship and 
in case any return from hence to take their arms with them." 

164^ — Oct. 19 — "Wm. Thomas hath promised a snap- 
hance musket, sword & belt knapsack & powder pouch. Mr. 
Edward Winslow a snaphance musket & a powder bag. — 
Josiah Winslow promised a back sword. Rogor Cook a 
belt — The North River men to find a Knapsack." 

Grants of meadow land were granted at Town meeting 
in 1643-4 to Robert Carver. (Bro. of Gov. Carver) & Wm 
Thomas — Wm. Thomas & Wm. Vassall were appointed at 
town meeting to lay out to several inhabitants lands on the 
North side of Green's Harbor River, of all lands undisposed 
of on that side, and also of the Marshes undisposed of on 
the South Side of said river, according to their discretion & 
so laid it out to several inhabitants, some of them were Thos. 
Bourne, — Josias Winslow — Kenelm Winslow — John Rus- 
sell, — John Dingley & Thos Chillingsworth." 
164^-4 — F^b- 27 — 

It is claimed that the first regularly organized Town Meet- 
ing in North America, with a Moderator chosen to preside, 
took place in Marshfield in 1643. 

"At a town meeting held the day & yeare aforesaid it is 
agreed by the joint consent of the inhabitants, that at the 
beginning of every town meeting there shall be one made 
choice of to be Moderator for the business of that day and 
that there be no disturbance in the assembly, and the occa- 
sions being ended, he shall dismiss the town meeting and in 
case any shall be a disturber of the meeting and not submit 
to the Moderator, he shall be fined in sixpence for every such 

Mars'hfield in 



26 History of Marshiield. 

disorder, so judged by the town and in case any be wanting 
at the said town meeting and do not appear at the hour ap- 
pointed he shall be fined in sixpence for one hour, or if any 
shall depart without orderly dismissment shall pay sixpence 
for every hour and for non appearance, eighteenpence as 
formerly agreed." 

Wm. Thomas was chosen as the first Moderator of Marsh- 
field. 

"Also it is agreed that if any shall absent themselves from 
the exercise of Arms, any of the days appointed by the 
Captain, and for an hour, sixpence except upon just excuse 
allowed and approved by a Magistrate inhabiting of this 
towneship and all such fines so to be approved to be levied 
by warrant from the Magistrate by the Constable and clerk 
of the band and they to be accountable to the town." 

[All along in the early years of the township of Marsh- 
field appears in the town meeting records, grants of land, 
given and apportioned by the town to various individuals, 
who settled here in that early period.] 

1644 — July 18 — "At a town meeting Arthur Rowland & 
Luke Lilly are fined according to an order for not appear- 
ing upon a public warning in 18 pence a piece and Capt 
Thomas 6 pence for not appearing at the hour. Mr. Ed- 
ward Winslow was chosen Moderator. At this town meet- 
ing the inhabitants there met upon serious consideration of 
the dangers that are like to arise, they find that not any one 
watch or two can be to the preservation of this township, 
therefore the same to the said neighborhood unless some 
special order comes from authority. And in case there 
should be any assault by the Indians they have considered 
that Mr. Edward Winslow — Mr. Thomas's houses and the 
house of Jos. Beadle to be places tenable, and fit refuge for 
the safe guard of ourselves, wives & children that are this 
side of the South River and for the inhabitants upon the 
North River the most part of them being absent, though 



History of MarshHeld. 27 

being lawfully warned, we thought meet to leave them to 
consider of a place convenient for a safe retreat for them- 
selves, their wives, & children & if they shall neglect so to 
do upon complaint of the constable or any one or more to the 
Committee, and they are to complain to the Govenor, who 
we desire set down an order in this case. It is ordered that 
Capt. Nathl Thomas being one of our Committee, that he 
entreat the government to betrust some one of our town with 
a barrel of powder that in case of any apparent danger ap- 
pears, the town may be supplied and the person so betrusted 
to be accountable to the government." 

A dozen men were fined six and eighteen pence for not 
appearing at the appointed hour of town meeting, and some 
for not appearing during the day. 

"j(5^d— At the town meeting it was agreed that Ed. Wins- 
low should agree with F. Godfrey for making a bridge over 
South River, and what he shall agree the town are ready to 
affirm." 

"At the same town meeting Jos. Beadle, John Gorham & 
Thos. Tilden were chosen Raters, (to fix taxes) and the 
sum that they are to raise is two pounds ten shillings for a 
public charge, and forty seven shillings and a penny for the 
charges of the Committee & other considerations, the town 
are willing the sum of five pounds & twelve shillings be 
raised in the whole." 

[The first case of the Town's help to the poor appears 
here, 1646.] 

"At the same town meeting Josiah Winslow & John 
Dingley were appointed by the town to take order that Roger 
Cooke be forthwith sent to Mr. Chauncey to cure, and for 
what they shall be at, either sending of him or in his cure, 
or for his diet and lodging, the town promise to save the 
said Josias and John Dingley harmless." 

164^ — [A case where the town duns a bill, due from one 
individual to another.] 



28 History of MarshHeld. 

"At the town meeting it was ordered & agreed that there 
should be a rate made (taxes) of five pounds sterling for the 
payment of the charge of 'fissick' (physic) and diet of Roger 
Cook to Mr. Chauncy & Goodman Hicks at Scituate & for 
that and Anthony Snow, Ralph Chapman & John Russell 
are chosen raters. And also that town thinks meet that 
monies due to Roger Cook from Arthur Rowland be payed 
to the town to help to pay his future charge." 

"16^0 — At a town meeting held this day & year, John 
Phillips of this town hath put his son Wm. Phillips, being 
about the age of seven years the first of December last past, 
unto John Bradford of the town of Duxborough and his 
now wife, and either of them, or the survivor of them, after 
the manner of an Apprentice for an during the term of four- 
teen years from the first of December aforesaid & the said 
John Bradford doth covenant & promise to maintain his said 
apprentice in good & sufficient meat, drink & apparel fitting 
for such an apprentice during the said term and at the end of 
said term the said John Bradford is to give him two suits of 
apparel & also the sum of five pounds sterling, either in corn 
or cattle & also the said John Bradford doth promise to teach 
and instruct the said apprentice, to write and read and give 
him that education as becometh a master to a servant." 

1651. 

"It was agreed at the town meeting that the said com- 
mittee and Peregrine White are in the behalf of the town 
to look to all such persons as live disorderly in the township, 
and to give them warning; and in case they do not redress 
their course of life that then they shall use such means to 
redress such abuses as they find in any such persons to be 
as the whole town may do if they were all present" 
1652. Taxes on Animals. 
"At a town meeting it is agreed upon by the inhabitants 
there present, that for the making the rates for the town, 
that horses and geldings at the age of three years old and 



History of Marshfield. 29 

upward shall pay for the price for rate of three cows, and 
at two years old shall be valued at the price in the rate of 
two cows, and that all colts, whether sucklings or yearlings 
shall be valued in the rate at the price of one cow, and that 
all oxen that are five years old and upwards shall be rated 
at the price of seven pounds, and all cows that are four years 
old and upwards at four pounds and ten shillings a head, 
and all steers of four years old at the same price, four 
pounds, ten per head, and all three years old and two years 
old at three pounds per head, and all year old and vantage at 
forty shillings a head, and all calves at twenty shillings a 
head, and all sheep, lambs and wethers at 20s a head, and 
all swine that is a year old and upwards at 20s a head, and 
all swine that are six months old and upwards, 5s a head. 
It is further agreed upon that all cattle wintered and sum- 
mered in the township of other persons, either in this town 
or elsewhere, shall be liable to the payment of the town 
charges at the same price that the inhabitants doth pay for 
their own cattle. 

"It is further agreed that whosoever shall not give in the 
whole sums of his cattle to the Raters that he hath wintered 
and summered according to an order here specified, shall pay 
for every such default, 20s a head." 

1652. 

"It is agreed upon by the inhabitants then present that if 
any person or persons in this town shall kill any wolves in 
this township, that such persons upon sufficient information 
of it to the town, shall have twenty shillings per head for 
every wolf so killed. 

It is agreed that Thomas Tilden shall be paid twelve shil- 
lings for the killing of a wolf." 
Paid- 
John Bourne, transporting powder, i^ — 6^ 
Transportation of the rate and for the meeting 

house, £2 — IQS 



30 History of MarshUeld. 

For 200 lbs. lead, 3 — o 

For killing of a wolf, — I2S — 

1653- 
"At the town meeting it is agreed upon that all young men 
who are in the township that are single persons, and are 
at their own hands, shall be liable to pay all the town's rates 
as the rest of the inhabitants do, after the value of ten pounds 
a head for every such person." 

1655- 

"At the town meeting it is ordered that not any of the in- 
habitants of this town shall receive any person or persons 
as inmates or inhabitants without permission legally from 
the town, at the town meeting, that so the town may take 
such security as they shall see convenient." 

1657. 

"At the town meeting the inhabitants have agreed 
that Ensign Fames, Wm. Macomber, Sen^, shall 
provide a Meeting house to be placed according to a former 
grant for the town's use, and so that they may remove this 
meeting house which is resident already an enlarged, may 
by them be thought convenient, or else to sell or dispose of 
this house for the furtherance of said work, or otherwise 
agree with workmen to build it, and they do order the 
dimensions, thereof, as the said three men doth see meet 
for the best conveniency for the town's use, and the town 
doth engage to ans\^'er the disbursements as the said house 
shall require in the building thereof." 

[The above meeting house was located at or near the 
Winslow burial ground.] 

Cut River. 

I find the following recorded in the Old Colony records 
concerning Marshfield about the year 1645. "It is also 
ordered by the Court that the Cutt at Greens Harbour for a 
boate passage shal be made eighteen foote wide and sixe 
foote deepe. And for the manner how the same shal be 



History of MarshUeld. 3 1 

done for the better ordering thereof; it is referred to the 
Govern^" and Assistants w^h the help of John Winslowe — 
Jona. Brewster — John Barnes, Christopher Waddesworth 
as well to proportion every man equally to the charge thereof 
as also to order men that shall worke thereat, that tenn 
men may worke together there at once, and that the Govnor 
or whom he shall appoynt shall oversee the same, that it may 
be performed." 



CHAPTER VI. 
Marriages Among the Pilgrims. 

Says Goodwin, "The first marriage in the Colony occurred 
May 2 1 St, 1 62 1, between Edward Winslow (afterwards 
Governor), who had been a widower only seven weeks, and 
Susanna White (mother of Peregrine), a widow not twelve 
weeks, but the case was exceptional. Winslow should be 
at the head of a household, and the White children needed 
a paternal guardian. The marriage proved fortunate for 
all concerned. Among Mrs. Winslow's subsequent children 
was Josiah, whom 52 years later she saw the first native Gov- 
ernor of an American Colony. The forefathers of Marsh- 
field and elsewhere throughout the Colony did not marry 
before clergymen, but performed the ceremony before magis- 
trates for many years, not because in their earliest days they 
had no clergymen ( Elder Brewster was a layman, although 
performing many of the duties of a clergyman) but because 
our fathers held that the Scriptures and the early Christians 
had not empowered clergymen to perform marriages, be- 
lieving it to be a civil compact only between man and 
woman." Gov. Bradford's eldest son married Martha, a 
daughter of Thomas Bourne, of Marshfield." 

Marriages were very strict in our forefathers' time. A 
previous contract of the parties' intention of marriage before 
the final marriage, must be made, and publicly announced. 
Sometimes it was for weeks and months, and sometimes a 
year in advance, and a newly married couple's previous re- 
quirements were watched very closely when the wedding 
knot was tied. In some cases where a violation of the re- 
quirements occurred, the husband was severely whipped, 
while the wife sat near by with hands and feet secured in 

32 



History of MarshEeld. 33 

stocks, to witness her husband's punishment. Finally it 
was changed to a fine. The offenders were both of a high 
and low grade socially. Among some of the offenders is 
mentioned our earliest townsman, Peregrine White, of 
Marshfield. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Punishments by Pilgrims. 

Notwithstanding our forefathers have the name of being 
very strict in their rehgious observances and in their punish- 
ments of crime, they were mild and Hberal in comparison to 
some of their neighboring colonies here and in other states. 
Massachusetts Bay (Gov. Winthrop's) Colony, around Bos- 
ton and vicinity, made thirteen crimes punishable by death. 
Virginia Colony, seventeen — and in the latter Colony, a man 
for believing and advocating Unitarianism was punishable 
by death, and the same penalty was enforced upon Unitarians 
in England in King James's time; and even later in the days 
of Queen Elizabeth, pious men were hanged for advocating 
Congregationalism (Orthodoxy). Maryland punished 

believers and advocates in Unitarianism with death. Though 
our Forefathers' faith was good and strong, they laid down 
no formal creed to guide them. The Old Colony had but five 
classes of crime to be punished by death, and only two were 
ever enforced. Our Forefathers, unlike the Puritans of 
Boston, Salem, etc., never hung a witch. The Quakers, if 
non-residents, v/ere treated rather harshly. Arthur How- 
land, a resident of Marshfield, was liberal in his views, and 
sympathized with the Quakers. About the year, 1657, ac- 
cording to Goodwin, author of the Pilgrim Republic, "Joh'^ 
Phillips, the constable going to Arthur Howland's house in 
Marshfield to leave a summons, saw a non-resident Quaker 
preacher, Robert Tuchin, and arrested him. Howland in- 
terf erred and ejected the constable from his house, declaring, 
as the latter certified, that he would have 'a sword or gun in 
the belly of him.' Two sons of John Rogers (of the May- 
flower) refused to aid the constable. When the official re- 

34 



History of Marslificld. 35 

turned with a posse, Tuchin had escaped. Howland was 
forthwith taken to Alden's house and tried before Collier, 
Alden and Josiah Winslow, who ordered him to give bonds 
to the General Court; he refusing to furnish bail, they put 
him in charge of the Colony's Marshal, Lieutenant Nash, 
who lived near. He was eventually fined £4 for harboring 
Tuchin, and £5 for resisting the officer. Soon after, he sent 
the court an indignant protest against Anti-Quaker meas- 
ures, and was then arrested for contempt. The court de- 
cided that as his estate would not bear further fines, and 
he was too old and infirm to be whipped, he be released in ac- 
knowledgment of error, which was done." A romantic case 
is recorded concerning the son of this same Arthur Howland 
of Marshfield. It was in 1660 when Thomas Prence was 
Governor of the Colony, and concerned his daughter. "The 
tolerant course of the elder Arthur Howland toward Quakers 
had earned the ill will of Gov. Prence, and when in 1660 he 
found Arthur Howland, Jr., had woed his daughter Eliza- 
beth, he had the swain before the General Court, where he 
was fined £5 for making love without her father's permis- 
sion. The couple remained constant, however, for in 1667 
the irate Governor once more brought up young Arthur, 
who was again fined £5 because he had disorderly and un- 
righteously endeavored to obtain the affections of Mistress 
Elizabeth Prence, and was put under a bond of £50 to re- 
frain and desist. But Prence, like Canute, was unable to 
control the forces of nature. This action was in July, but 
before the next spring the imperious Governor seems to have 
been forced to capitulate, for Arthur, Jr., and Elizabeth were 
united, and in the course of events there was a Thomas How- 
land and a Prence Howland. Governor Prence's friend 
and neighbor. Constant Southworth, had a like experience 
with his daughter Elizabeth. In his will, 1679, he gave her 
"My next best bed and furniture, with my wife's best bed, 
provided she do not marry Wm. Fobes, but if she do, then to 



36 History of MarshUeld. 

have 5s." The bed and adjuncts were then worth thirty 
times 5s, for a fine bed was thought a goodly bequest; but 
it was the grand old story; Elizabeth chose to have 5s with 
William, to two beds without him, and provided her own 
beds." 

Attendance at church was made compulsory in the Colony. 
"Arthur Rowland and wife of Marshfield, who at divers 
times seem to have caused the officers of the Colony some 
uneasiness were fined for not attending public worship, and 
he was also arrested for neglecting his minister's tax; in re- 
spect to his age, however, he was excused till further notice. 
"In 1666 Wm. Thomas, 2nd, charged Pastor Arnold of 
Marshfield with teaching rank blasphemy, and the General 
Court on examining the sermon declared it pure orthodoxy, 
and censuring Mr. Thomas for great arrogancy, cautioned 
him to carry more soberly." Some of the women of Marsh- 
field were pugnacious in Pilgrim days, and some were un- 
ruly, for in 1666 we find Constable Ford of Marshfield hav- 
ing arrested Widow Naomi Sylvester, Ford was attacked; 
and she was rescued. As a penalty their brother, William, 
was ordered to pay Ford £2." It does not appear what the 
nature of the first offence was, and it does not follow that 
the offence would have been at all criminal in our time; but 
in Pilgrim days, as we have already seen, it was made a crime 
to harbor a non-resident Quaker, and also non attendance to 
church. It was a law in the Colony that a man should be in- 
dicted for swearing, lying and making seditious speeches, 
etc. "Thomas Ewer was indicted for seditious speeches, to lie 
neck and heels at the court's will, but being infirm was par- 
doned and warned that for the next offense he would be 
banished from the Colony." "Ralph Smith for lying about 
seeing a whale, fined 20s." "Thomas Lucas for swearing," 
sentenced to be put in the stocks. In 165 1 John Rogers of 
Marshfield was fined 5s for villifying the ministry. A 
Mr. Winter, who in 1660 was constable of Marshfield, was 



History of MarshHeld. 37 

in 1638 fined los for publishing himself to Jane Cooper, con- 
trary to order and custom; he was also excommunicated 
from the church at Scituate. The next year, on the charge 
of antenuptial intimacy. Winter was sentenced to be whipped 
at the post, at the Governor's discretion, and his wife to be 
whipped at the cart's tail through the street." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The Founder of MarshHeld. 

It is well here to give some account of Edzvard Winslow, 
who was called the founder and father of Marshfield, the 
Governor and one of, if not the most prominent man of 
Plymouth Colony; he was the most accomplished of all the 
Pilgrims. Three men, it is universally conceded, were the 
leading men in the early settlement of New England, and 
they were Gov. Bradford, Miles Standish and Gov. Edward 
Winslow. Some add the name of Elder Brewster. Brad- 
ford noted for the administrative afifairs of the Colony. 
Miles Standish for his military heroism in the defense of the 
Colonists, and Gov. Winslow for the management of the 
"business and commercial affairs of the Colony. Holton's 
Winslow Memorial says • "Gov. Edward Winslow was 
born at Droitwich, England, October i8, 1595. He was the 
third on the list who signed the- Compact before the Pilgrims* 
disembarkation. When Mr. Winslow arrived, his family 
consisted of himself, his wife. Elizabeth, and three other 
persons. His wife died about three months after the land- 
ing. In May, following, he married Susanna, widow of 
William White, and mother of Peregrine. This was the 
first marriage solemnized in the Colony. One of his first 
duties after the landing of the Pilgrims was to visit the In- 
dians." "When the Sachem of the Wampanoags, Massa- 
soit, first made his appearance, and through a messenger in- 
vited an interview with the settlers, Mr. Winslow was de- 
puted by Gov. Carver to meet him ; and he voluntarily placed 
himself as a hostage in the hands of the Indians, while their 
chief, Massasoit, held his conference with the Governor. He 
was treated by the Indians on a kind of bread, called by them 

38 



History of MarshHeld. 39 

Maquim, and the spawn of shads and musty acorns boiled. 
They were lodged in the open fields; for houses they had 
none." In the words of Winslow, upon his meeting Massa- 
soit, the chief, after his welcome : "He lighted tobacco for 
us and fell to discoursing of England and the King's Majesty, 
marvelling that he would live without a wife. Late it 
grew, but victuals he had none. So we desired to go to 
rest. He laid us on the bed with himself and his wife, they 
at one end and we at the other, it being only planks, laid a 
foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon them. Two 
more of his chiefmen, for want of room, pressed by and 
upon us, so we were worse weary of our lodging than of the 
journey. The next day, being Thursday, many of the 
Sachems or petty governors came to see us, and many of 
their men, also. There they went to their manner of games 
for skins and knives." "There we challenged them to shoot 
for skins, but they durst not only, they desired to see one of 
us, too, shoot at a mark, who shooting with hail shot, they 
wondered to see the mark so full of holes." "About one 
o'clock Massasoit brought two fishes that he had shot. These 
being boiled, there were at least forty looked for share in 
them, the most eat of them. This meal, the only one we 
had in two nights and a day, and had not one of us brought 
a partridge, we had taken our journey fasting. Very im- 
portunate he was to have us stay with him longer, but we 
desired to spend the Sabbath at home, and feared we should 
be light-headed for want of sleep, for what with bad lodging, 
the savages barbarous singing, (for they use to sing them- 
selves asleep), lice, and fleas within doors, and mosquitos 
without, we could hardly sleep all the time of our being there; 
we much fearing that if we should stay any longer, we should 
not be able to recover home, for want of strength." "This 
narrative gives us glimpses of the hospitality, and also the 
poverty of the Indians. They gladly entertained strangers 
with the best they could afford, but it is familiar to them to 



40 History of MarshHeld. 

endure long and almost complete abstinence of food." This 
visit resulted in friendship from the tribe to the Colony." 
Mr. Winslow's next journey was by sea to the mouth of 
Kennebec River, Me., to procure bread from fishing vessels. 
He obtained a small supply, which amounted to one quarter 
of a pound a day for each person till the next harvest. One 
other visit of the founder of Marshfield made to the Indians, 
I will here give as the facts acquaint us with the people with 
whom our forefathers were thrown. 

In the spring of the following year Mr. Winslow made a 
second visit to Massasoit, on account of his sickness, the par- 
ticular circumstances of which are given in his own words: 
"News came to us that Massasoit was like to die. Now it 
being a commendable manner of the Indians, when any es- 
pecially of note are dangerously sick, for all that profess 
friendship to them to visit them in their extremity, either in 
persons or else to send some acceptable persons to them; 
therefore, it was thought meet to bring a good and warranted 
action, that as we had ever professed friendship, so we should 
now maintain the same by observing their laudable custom. 
Gov. Bradford laid this service upon myself, and fitted me 
with some cordials to administer to the chief. At length, 
when we came thither (to the chief's habitation) we found 
the house so full of men as we could scarce get in, though 
they used the best diligence to make way for us. They 
were in the midst of their charms for him, making such a 
hellish noise as it distempered us that were well, and, there- 
fore, unlike to ease him that were sick. 

"About him were six or eight women, who chafed his arms, 
legs and thighs, to keep heat in him. When they had made 
an end of their charming, one told him that his friends, the 
English, were come to see him. Having understanding 
left, but his sight was wholly gone, he asked who was come; 
they told him Winslow. He desired to speak to me. 

When I came to him, and they told him of it, he put forth 



History of MarsJiRcld. ' 41 

his hand to me, which I took, then he said twice, 'Keen 
Winslow — Oh, Winslow, I shall never see thee again !' 

"Then I called Hobbamock and desired him to tell Massa- 
soyt that the Governor hearing of his sickness was sorry of 
the same and though by reason of many businesses he could 
not come himself, yet he sent me with such things for him, as 
he thought most likely to do him good in this extremity, and 
whereof, if he please to take, I would presently give him; 
which he desired, and having a confection of many com- 
fortable conserves on the point of my knife, I gave him some, 
which I could scarcely get through his teeth. When it was 
dissolved in his mouth he swallowed the juice of it, whereat 
those that were about him much rejoiced, saying he had not 
swallowed anything in two days before. 

"Then I desired to see his mouth, which was exceedingly 
furred, and his tongue swelled in such a manner, as it was 
not possible for him to eat such meat as they had, his pas- 
sage being stopped up. Then I washed his mouth and 
scraped his tongue and got abundance of corruption out of 
the same. After which I g'ave him more of the confection, 
which he swallowed with more readiness. Then desiring to 
drink, I dissolved some of it in water and gave him thereof. 
Within half an hour this wrought a great alteration in him 
in the eyes of all that beheld him. Presently after his sight 
began to come tc him, I gave him more." 

He sent one of the chief's messengers home for some more 
medicine. He made some broth. 

"After the broth being boiled, I strained it through 
my handkerchief and gave him at least a pint, which he drank 
and liked it very well. After this his sight mended more 
and more. That morning he caused me to spend in going 
from one to another, amongst those that were sick in the 
town, requesting me to wash their mouths, also, and give to 
each of them some of the same I gave him, saying, 'that they 
were good folk.' This pains I took with willingness, though 
it were much offensive to me." 

Mars'hfield iv 



42 History of Marshfield. 

"The messengers were now returned, but finding his 
stomach come to him, he would not have the chickens they 
brought killed, but kept them for breed; neither durst we give 
him physic, which was then sent because his body was so 
much altered since our instructions; neither saw we any 
need, not doubting his recovery if he were careful. Many 
whilst we were there came to see him; some by their report, 
from a place not less than a hundred miles. Upon this his 
recovery he brake forth into these speeches: 'Now I see 
the English are my friends and love me.' 

"Whilst we were there our entertainment exceeded all 
other strangers. At our coming away, he called Hobba- 
mock to him and privately revealed the plot of the Massa- 
cheuseucks (another tribe) against Master Weston's Colony, 
and so against us. But he would neither join therein, nor 
give away to any of his. With this he charged him to ac- 
quaint me by the way, that I might inform the Governor. 
Being fitted for our return, we took leave of him, who re- 
turned many thanks to our Governor, and also to ourselves 
for our labor and love, the like did all that were about him. 
So we departed." 

If his successors, his sons Alexander and brother, Phillip 
— especially the latter — had continued those friendly rela- 
tions that Massasoit had so grandly begun, there would not 
have been those terrible Indian wars that followed. Not 
until after Edward Winslow and his Mayflower associates 
had passed away and beyond, were the later colonists trou- 
bled. 

Winslow returned to England in three years after 
landing on our shores, for the purpose of acquainting the 
people in England of the progress of the Pilgrims here, and 
also in procuring such supplies as the colonists needed. 

He remained in England about six months, and brought 
back with him a good supply of clothing, and the first neat 
cattle ever brought into New England. This fixes the date 



History of MarshHeld. 43 

of the first importation of neat cattle, three heifers and a bull 
being brought over at this time. The settlers were destitute 
of milk the first four years. The first notice of horses is 
in 1644, twenty- four years after our Forefathers landed, and 
eight years after Winslow settled in Marshfield. 

In a letter to a friend, Winslow says in regard to the 
friendly relations with the Indians : "We have found the 
Indians very faithful to their covenant of peace with us, very 
loving and ready to pleasure us. We often go to them and 
they come to us. Some of us have been fifty miles by land 
in the country with them, the occasions and relations whereof 
you shall understand by our general and more full declara- 
tion of such things as are worth the noting. Yes, it hath 
pleased God so to possess the Indians with a fear of us and 
love unto us, that not only the greatest King amongst them, 
called Massasoyt, but also all the princes and peoples round 
about us, have either made suit to us, or been glad of any 
occasion to make peace with us; so that seven of them at 
once have sent their messengers to us to that end. They 
willingly yielded to be under the protection and subject to 
our sovereign lord King James. The following is the Oath 
of Allegiance these princes and so called Savages took: 
'Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are 
underwritten, do acknowledge ourselves to be loyal subjects 
of King James, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, 
Defender of the Faith, &c. In witness whereof and as a 
testimonial of the same, we have subscribed our names or 
marks as followeth : 

'Ohquamchud, Chickkatabak, 

'Cownacome, Quadaquina, 

'Obbatinnua, Huttmoiden, 

'Caunbatant, Appannon.' " 

Our Pilgrim townsman further says in regard to food: 
"For fish and fowl we have great abundance. Fresh cod in 
the summer is but coarse meat with us. Our bay is full 



44 History of MarshUeld. 

of lobsters all the summer and affordeth variety of other 
fish. In September we can take a hoggshead of eels in a 
night, with small labor and can dig them out of their beds 
all winter. We have mussels at our doors. Oysters we 
have none near, but we can have them brought by the Indians 
when we will. All the spring time the Earth sendeth forth 
naturally very good salted herbs. Here are grapes, white 
and red, and very sweet and strong also; strawberries, rasp- 
berries, &c, plums of three sorts, red and damask. Single 
but very sweet indeed." Hence it will be seen that our 
Pilsrrim ancestors of Marshfield did not sufifer for want of 
natural food. It was only for two or three years after the 
Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, before habitations were erected 
to any extent, and corn had not time to be grown and ac- 
cumulate that the Pilgrim fathers and mothers suffered. 
The famine was in 1623. The only thing they wanted 
thereafter was men to enlarge their settlements and help 
grow their crops and fill their graineries in anticipation of 
drouths that might come. All of these conditions were at 
last fulfilled, for our Pilgrim ancestors were made of differ- 
ent material from those who visited Jamestown, Virginia, 
fourteen years earlier. The latter were simply adventurers, 
who did not come to this country to stay, but came for the 
love of novelty and for what they could get. The result 
was that Virginia did not grow and thrive as here, nor did 
other parts of the country visited earlier, as at St. Augustine, 
Florida. The settlers there were not made of the stuff that 
constituted the makeup of our Pilgrim fathers. We had 
some adventurers, of course, among our Forefathers, but by 
far the greater party of them came here for more liberty^ 
not more liberty for licentiousness and evil, but that liberty 
to believe and act up to their highest convictions in their 
religion and everyday life, and they were also imbued with 
a purpose to plant a colony founded upon justice, industry, 
integrity and progressive culture in all things towards the 



History of MarshHeld. 45 

improvement of every man, woman and child on our shores, 
and that was the key that gave the impetus to that steady 
and marvelous growth to our Colony, and the sending forth 
in the course of years throughout the length and breadth of 
our land, pioneers full of the strenuous life and New Eng- 
land thrift, who constituted the full-fledged Yankee, known 
far and wide over this hemisphere and the old, as the em- 
bodiment of that enterprise and progress developed in the 
Nineteenth Century in the United States of America. 

In 1636 or 1637 Edward Winslow moved to Marshfield 
and settled in that portion of the town distant about a third 
of a mile east of the present Winslow House and called by 
Gov. Winslow the "Careswell Estate," after some place in 
England with which he was familiar. His brother. Ken- 
elm, the record says, "lived on a neck of land lying between 
Green's Harbor River and South River." Five years after- 
wards an assistant to Gov. Winslow, named Wm. Thomas, 
bought a piece of land adjoining his, built his habitation, 
and settled there. This estate, a couple of centuries later, 
Daniel Webster purchased, and not only this estate, but the 
Winslow estate, and thus the illustrious statesman became 
the possessor and occupant of both these historic estates. 
The "Careswell Estate" of Winslow extended to the south- 
erly side of Green's Harbor River. He built, it is claimed, 
the finest house in the Colony on this estate, but it is not in 
existence to-day. The house on the estate at present, 
known as the Winslow House, built several generations later 
by Dr. Isaac Winslow, is very ancient, being one of the 
oldest in town. It is a large, square. Colonial house, and 
has the appearance of having been a century ago one of the 
finest mansions on the South Shore. This house, like other 
large mansions of its time, has a secret chamber, the entrance 
to which is by a sliding panel over one of the wide fireplaces. 
It is related that one of the Winslows took refuge in this 
hiding place after the house had been surrounded by a body 



46 History of .Marsh field. 

of patriots. "In the room connected with the secret place, 
there was at the time a woman in bed with a new-born child. 
The Colonists, with a delicate forbearance, made but a 
superficial search of her apartments, and so the royalist in 
hiding escaped discovery." Edward Winslow, our Fore- 
father of Marshfield, was chosen Governor of Plymouth 
Colony several times, and served in that office also after he 
became a citizen of Marshfield. Marshfield was well repre- 
sented among the leading officials of the Colony in Colonial 
days, Edward Winslow serving as Governor in its earlier 
period and his son, Josiah Winslow, a resident of Marsh- 
held, serving later. 

Gov. Ed. Winslow did not die in Marshfield. He was 
sent back to England four times after his arrival here in the 
Mayflower, by the Governors in power, on important busi- 
ness for the Colony, as he was the most able man among 
the Pilgrims in that line. He was sent on his last voyage 
across in 1646, to explain disputes arising from religious 
controversies in three colonies, complained of by one Samuel 
Gorton. While he was abroad, Cromwell, who thought 
well of him, appointed him first Commissioner of the Com- 
monwealth of England to superintend the English expedi- 
tion to the West Indies, whereby Cromwell was anxious to 
gain possession of one of the islands. "During Mr. Wins- 
low's voyage to the Indies, before the arrival of the vessel 
at its destination, he contracted a fever, and died and was 
buried with all the honors of war at sea, in May, 1655, aged 
61. Over the spot the fleet fired 42 guns as a salute of high 
rank." He was the youngest of three great Pilgrim lead- 
ers. It is his son's, Gov. Josiah Winslow's monument that 
we see in the Winslow burying ground near Webster's tomb. 
Edward Winslow's widow survived him 25 years. She 
died at Marshfield in 1680 and was buried in the Winslow 
burying ground, so called. She lived long enough to see 
her son Governor. Resolved White, one of her elder chil- 
dren, a brother of Peregrine, was living in 1690, and Pere- 
grine White lived until 1704. 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Menu of Our Forefathers. 

Goodwin says : "Tea and coffee were unknown to our 
Forefathers. Beer was a common beverage. The potato 
was unknown to them. Neither potatoes (white Irish po- 
tatoes), tea or coffee were used for more than a century 
after the Pilgrims landed." "The breakfast of our Fore- 
fathers in Marshfield, and throughout the Colony generally, 
among the common classes, was milk and hasty pudding, 
or rye pudding and bread, with pea or bean soup or stew, 
flavored with pork, stewed peas, squash, turnips, parsnips 
and onions. Fresh fish was common, but beef and mutton 
were very seldom seen. There was plenty of poultry and 
pork. Butter and cheese, after the first few years, were 
plenty, except among the very poor. Children usually had 
milk, while the youths drank water or the beer of the elders. 
At no time after the famine of 1623 was there a lack of good 
food among the Colonists." "As tea and coffee were un- 
known to the Forefathers, the many Delft ware tea and 
coffee pots preserved by collectors of Pilgrim relics are to 
be regarded an. anachronisms, and especially so at the time 
of the Mayflower voyage; earthen tableware was not in 
common use." "It seems pretty certain that the first comers 
brought no earthen tableware, and required very little in 
after years, although they had earthen bowls, jugs, pots and 
pans. For elegant ware, pewter was much employed, and 
is frequently mentioned in the wills and schedules of both of 
the Colonies. Stout wooden plates called 'trenchers' were 
used, as also wooden bowls." "Table forks were also un- 
known to the English tables in the Mayflower's day, though 
large forks were used in cooking." "Tom Coryat had about 

47 



48 History of MarshHeld. 

that time brought a fork from Italy to London, and he ate 
with it at a pubhc table, the people used to crowd around 
to see the comical performance. For many years after- 
ward the table-fork was regarded as a curiosity, much as 
chopsticks now are, and its use was considered ridiculous, as 
a freak of effeminancy by Beaumont and Fletcher and by 
rare Ben. Johnson." The diner (in Marshfield ) in those 
early days was accustomed to hold his meat with the left 
fingers while he cut it into pieces which could be conveyed 
to the mouth by the knife or the fingers. This process re- 
quired much wiping of the hands, for which purpose there 
was a plentiful supply of napkins. 'Tn some families saf- 
fron was much used on meats, and hence the left-hand fingers 
of such people often acquired a yellow color. Probably not 
one of the Pilgrims ever saw a fork used at tables." 



CHAPTER X. 
1663. Town Record Selections. 

"At the town meeting- there was a contribution for the 
reHef of Ed. Bumpus to 6 bushels of corn of which Major 
Josias Winslow furnished 2 bush. — Jos. Beadle i bush. — 
John Dingley ^ bush. — Mr. Bourne and Bradford i bush. — 
John Rogers a bushel — Josiah Keen half a bush. — Ensign 
Eames ^ bush, and these persons to be answered at the next 
town's rate." 

"At said town meeting the inhabitants present have agreed 
as to the maintenance of Rev. Samuel Arnold in the work 
of the ministry, that for the present year that this shall be 
raised by way of rate ; viz : thirty-five pounds shall be raised 
upon the estates of the whole town equally as upon other 
town rates, and the other five pounds to be paid particularly 
by the church and the one half being £17 — los to be paid be- 
twixt this and the first of March next, and the other to 
be paid at or before the 15th of November in the year, 1664, 
and these payments to be made in corn, cattle, butter or 
English goods at current prices." 

1664. 

"And further the town hath empowered their Selectmen 
that now are or hereafter shall be to warn any that judge to 
be idle or disorderly persons out of the town and in case any 
inhabitant shall entertain any such persons that he knows 
hath been so warned away by them, although but for shorter 
time he shall be liable to the penalty expressed." 

1665. [Indian conveyance or grant] 

"Whereas I Josias Winslow at the request of this town 
of Marshfield did in their behalf purchase of the Indian 
Sachem, Josiah F. O. Chickatabut, the lands of this town 

49 



50 History of MarshHeld. 

which is mentioned, (in a deed from him to us of above 
date). Know all men to whom these presents shall come 
that I do by these presents resign up the land here above 
mentioned unto the proprietors of this town and their heirs 
forever. 

In witness whereof I have set thereunto my hand the 
twenty-fifth of June, 1666. 

Signed, Josias Winslow." 

"Ensign Mark Eames was chosen by the town to deliver to 
Robert Sprout a parcel of cloth in his hands to clothe Han- 
nah Bumpus, and Lieut. Peregrine White shall be responsible 
for it out of the ten pounds that he hath of Hannah Bum- 
pus in his hand, and also the said Lieut. White doth supply 
her two pair of shoes of the same account." 

"At the said town meeting the town hath disposed of Han- 
nah Bumpus with her father's consent to Robert Sprout 
for to be his servant for three years, and in case that the 
said Hannah shall be with child before this time that then 
the town will take care for her and at the end of three years* 
service will receive her if it be required." 

"Anthony Snow did give and grant one half an acre of 
ground to the town for a Burying place, which land lies up- 
on the northerly side of the highway near the meeting house 
and next the land of Timothy Williamson." 

"At town meeting the inhabitants, have agreed that as to 
all future town meeting, that they shall begin at ten of the 
clock, and so to continue from March to November six hours 
by an hour glass, all the town meetings in that time of the 
year, and from November to March in that interim, to con- 
tinue but four hours by a glass, and what is acted in that 
space of time to be owned as town acts and the other time 
beyond this of the same days any actings to be invalid." 

"Eleven pounds sterling was voted to be paid for support 
of Mr. Bulkley in wheat, pork or butter." 

1669. 

"The town hath voted to make 2 rates (taxes) one for the 



History of Marshfield. 51 

town and country rates, and also to make the minister's 
rate." 

"It was also agreed that the Meeting House, (near Wins- 
low's burying ground,) shall be enlarged and covered with 
boards and shingles; and they have voted that Maj. Josiah 
Winslow, Jos. Beadle and Wm. Ford, are to agree with 
workman for doing the work, and to be paid by town rate." 

1670. 

"It was agreed in town meeting whereas a payment for 
the meeting house as to repairing of it, one fourth part of 
thirty-four pounds was to be jiaid in pork, the town shall 
pay in lieu of the pork, one-half in wheat at four shillings 
and sixpence a bushel, or butter at five pence, half penny 
a pound and the other half in Indian corn, and as for the 
other fourth part, which is to be paid in beef, they have or- 
dered it shall be paid in Indian corn, unless there be paid a 
barrel of beef by one person." 

"Also agreed that Mr. Winslow, Beadle and W. Ford, are 
to agree with workmen for the making the pews in the 
meeting house, to be paid for the next fall ; and also the said 
persons are to seat the persons at their discretion." 

"The inhabitants have agreed that the town will pay for 
the killing of wolves 30s a wolf; also that J. Dingley — J. 
Snow — Jona. Winslow and W. Winslow have agreed to 
make a sufficient wolf trap, and to keep it sufficiently 
tended." 

"Also agreed to make a sufficient Pound; viz: Thirty 
foot square, six rails high, squared corner posts, every top 
rail pinned, with a sufficient gate, a staple and padlock." 

"At town meeting, July 29, 1672 — it was voted that the 
whole town shall jointly pay to Mr. Arnold (the minister) 
rates as they pay all other town rates (taxes) w^ithout any 
disproportion betwixt the church and the town." 

1673. 
Salary of Town Officers: 
Treasurer, £10 — is — o; about $33.50 colonial currency. 



$2 History of Marshfield. 

Chief Marshal, £2 — 17s — 4d; about $9.55 colonial currency. 
Deputy Marshal, £1 — o — o; about $3.33 1-3 colonial cur- 
Deputy, £1 — o — o; about $3.33 1-3 colonial currency. 

rency. 
Grand Juryman, o — 15s — o; about $2.50 colonial currency. 
For Killing 5 Wolves o — 31s — o; about $5.16 2-3 colonial 

currency. 
For Charge Meeting House, o — 15 — o; about $2.50 colonial 

currency. 
For The Raters (tax gatherers) o — los — o; about $1.66 2-3 

colonial currency. 
For The Constables, o — los — o; about $1.66 2-3 colonial 

currency. 
A Total of $63.21 2-3 



CHAPTER XI. 

Preparations for King Phillip's War. 

"In the same year the town agreed that in reference to an 
order from the General Court held the sixteenth Septem- 
ber, 1673, to raising four troopers from this town; so it is 
that John Foster, Jacob Dingley — Jos. Waterman and Daniel 
G. White, have voluntary tendered themselves to serve as 
troops for the ensuing year for this town, and it is voted by 
the town that the pistols which belonged to the troopers 
formerly, that now are put into these troopers hands, are by 
them to be repaired and to be answered to them at the next 
town rate and the aforesaid troopers at the end of the year 
shall deliver them up to the Town's order in sufficient 'kel- 
ter' for service." "Also agreed to appoint a jury, and 
sworn by the governor, to lay out all the highways of the 
township. Lieut. Peregrine White and others served." 

1675- 

"Agreed by the town that the inhabitants are willing that 
Isaac Billington and his family, being distressed by reason 
of the late trouble with the Indians, this winter to reside in 
this town." "Also that the inhabitants gave in the amounts 
of the damages they had suffered by the late war with the 
Indians as to the loss besides, horses, saddles and guns and 
arms, which was to be sent to the committee at Plymouth by 
Ensign Mark Eames." 

"Also the inhabitants voted that there be three watches in 
the town, one at the Governor's (Winslow) residence, one 
at the Mill, and one at Thos. Macomber; and they have also 
voted Wm. Ford — Isaac Little and John Carver be added to 
Lieut. Peregrine White and Ensign Mark Eames as to the 
ordering the watches to be equally divided and disposed for 

53 



54 History of MarshHeld. 

the town's safety as to their watching and warding as these 
persor.s aforesaid do order according to their best discre- 
tion." 

1676. 

"The inhabitants have voted at the town meeting that half 
the barrel of powder at the Governor's, which belongs to 
the town, as also that remnant or parcel of powder which 
belongs to the town which is at William Ford sons, and the 
lead of the town, which is at the Governor's, that that am- 
munition shall be equally shared to the respective garrisons 
of the town, and to be delivered to the masters of the said 
garrisons and that according to the number of men in them, 
and these masters of garrisons, to be responsible to the town, 
according" to their proportions of the town rate, and Mr. 
Nath. Thomas and Timothy Williamson are to deliver the 
ammui'iition to the respective masters of the garrisons." 

1676. 

"The inhabitants agreed in town meeting that they would 
have twenty guns sent for the town's use, and that they 
shall be twenty Indians sent for from the southward to as- 
sist the town in sending forth against the Indian enemy, 
and to be satisfied for according to agreement." 

"Also the inhabitants voted that twenty-five pounds for 
the twentv guns, formerly mentioned, and powder and bul- 
lets to the value of the sum of twenty-five pounds for the 
supply of the town : and it is the town's desire that the Hon- 
ored Governor would be pleased to procure these guns and 
ammunition for the town's use." 

"Also agreed that if any of the soldiers that this town 
shall see cause to send forth against the Indian enemy that 
their wounded men & the families belonging to them shall 
be taken care for with suitable supplies as their case may 
require by the whole town." 

"Also agreed to make two rates, viz: fourteen pounds a 
monev rate, and the town's rate being £264 — for de- 



History of Marshiield. 55 

fraying the charges of the war. £14 being part of the 
gross sum before specified, as also for received £7-135 and 
40 shilHngs in money borrowed to pay the soldiers which 
went with Capt Pierce all these are deducted out of the £264 
above said." 

1679. 
"The inhabitants of the town agreed to pay Rev. Saml 
Arnold fifty pounds the ensuing year, and one half the fifty 
pounds to be paid in Corn and Cattle, and the other half to 
be paid in wheat, or barley or pork or beef or butter, or 
cheese or money according to the times of the year formerly 
specified in March and the beginning of October." 



CHAPTER XII. 

Selectmen's Power. — The Indians and Other Matters. 

In a very old memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth, by 
Baylies, we find in 1669 that the office of a Selectman was 
a high office. He wielded a deal of power. They were 
authorized to issue warrants of capias and attachment in 
His Majesty's name. Single persons were forbidden to 
live by themselves, or in any family excepting such as 
should be approved by the Selectmen, and in case they re- 
fused obedience to the order, of Selectmen, they were to 
be summoned to court and proceeded against. 

"There shall be three courts of the Selectmen in a year." 

"The Selectmen were this year empowered to try all ques- 
tions between the English and the Indians excepting Capi- 
tal and land titles. They were authorized to take a Con- 
stable and repair to any house or place where they might 
suspect that any slothful did lurk at home or get together 
in Companies to neglect the public worship of God, or pro- 
fane the Lord's day and finding any disorder to return the 
names of the offenders to the next Court and also to give 
notice of any particular miscarriage." 

"The powers and duties of the Selectmen appear to have 
been of a high character. They were not only the chief 
executive and police officers of the several towns, charged 
with a general superintendence of town affairs, and with 
a general oversight of the morals and manners of the in^ 
habitants, but they were judicial officers and were consti- 
tuted a court. They united the functions of the modern 
justice of the peace (now trial justice) and partially those 
of the old county courts of common pleas, with a jurisdic- 
tion limited to the towns. This judicial power was con- 



History of MarshUcld. 57 

ferred in consequence of the great inconvenience which the 
people of the remote towns suffered from being obHged 
to attend courts at Plymouth in small cases." "They 
united the functions of the Roman censor with those of the 
modern police ofihcer." 

In the same memoir we find that in 1643 great precaution 
was taken that the Indians should not be cheated of their 
lands or other property. "It was enacted that it should 
be holden unlawful and of dangerous consequence, as it hath 
been our constant custom from our very first beginning that 
no person should purchase, rent or hire any lands, herbage, 
wood, or timber of the indians but by the magistrate's con- 
sent. For every transgression £5 was forfeited for every 
acre so purchased, rented or levied, and five times the value 
of the wood & the timber to the Colony's use." 

"In 1660 it was enacted that this law should be so inter- 
preted as to prevent any from taking land as a gift. By 
these laws every practicable precaution was taken to secure 
the rights of the Indians and to prevent the improper and 
deceptive practices of individuals." 

The same memoir continues that "In 1658 the crime of 
adultery appears to be first noticed in the laws. The pun- 
ishment of this offence was two whippings, once while the 
court before whom the offending party was convicted should 
be in session, and once at any other time which they should 
direct, and the party so convicted w^as to wear two capital 
letters, A. D., cut in cloth and sewed on the uppermost gar- 
ment, on their arm or back, and if they removed the letters 
they were again to be publicy whipped. [In the Massa- 
chusetts Colony, a red letter "A" was obliged to be worn 
on the breast for this ofifence, and Hawthorne's romance 
entitled the "Scarlet Letter" was founded on this require- 
ment and fact.] 

"The court had previously enacted in 1645 that fornica- 
tion should be punished with whipping, a fine of f i or three 

Marshfield v 



58 History of Marshfteld. 

days' imprisonment, at the pleasure of the court. If, how- 
ever, the offending parties are or will be married, then the 
fine of £1 for both only and three days' imprisonment." 

Also in 1655, card playing was punished by a fine of 50s. 
"Servants or children playing at Cards, dice or other un- 
lawful games for the first offence to be corrected by their 
parents or masters, for the second to be publicly whipped. 
The constables were ordered to return the names of those 
who should play or sleep or smoke tobacco about the meet- 
ing house on the Lord's day. June, 1674, horse racing 
was ordered to be punished by the stocks, or by a fine." 

In 1646 the smoking of tobacco in the streets or about 
hay stacks or barn, or public places, was prohibited. Baylies 
continues by saying that "by a law of 1673 none were per- 
mitted to keep above three horses on the commons. One 
having £20 rateable estate was permitted to keep one; £40 
two; £60 three. Any keeping more it was made lawful 
for any one who was trespassed upon by such horses to kill 
them, and also to do it in case of trespass on their corn, or 
other enclosed lands or meadows after warning them." 

"In 1666 no horses were allowed to be carried out of any 
township in the government without the consent of the 
governor under a penalty of £5." 

"Plymouth Colony had been settled seventeen years, Mas- 
sachusetts Colony, seven, Connecticut Colony one or two, 
and New Haven Colony was scarcely settled when these 
Colonies began seriously to consider the benefit of a Union 
for the common defence. Articles of Confederation be- 
tween these plantations or Colonies were drawn up in 1643. 

" 'Wherefore it is fully agreed & concluded between the 
parties and jurisdictions above named, and they jointly & 
severally do by these presents agree and conclude that they 
all be & henceforth be called by the name of the United Col- 
onies of New England.' 

"It was agreed, however, that each Colony be forever 



History of MarshHeld. 59 

under the government of each separate Colony. 'But the 
Union of the Colonies is simply for Common defence in 
case of war or conflict with outside parties and the expense 
of any war be borne by the United Colonies.' 

"There were six Commissioners of the Union appointed, 
as follows : From Plymouth, Ed. Winslow ( founder of 
Marshfield) and Wm. Collier; from Massachusetts, John 
Winthrop and Thos. Dudley; from Connecticut, George 
Fanwick and Ed. Hopkins; from New Haven, Thos. Eaton 
and Thos. Gregson." And thus early in the days of the 
Pilgrims an embryo Union was formed as an example to 
the patriots of the Revolution, nearly a century and a half 
later, when a Union of thirteen Colonies or States was 
formed. 

Gov. Josiah IVmslow and King Philips' War. 

It was a great and bloody war in Pilgrim days in which 
our distinguished townsman and Colonist who was chosen 
commander-in-chief of the New England forces, and other 
townsmen w^ere engaged. It was especially disappointing 
to the Colonist that a son of the chief, Massassoit, whose 
father was so kind and hospitable to the Pilgrims and whose 
life Gov. Ed. Winslow saved, should leave a son whose life 
seemed to be spent in an attempt to exterminate every white 
man on the New England soil. 

Philip and Alexander, the sons of Massasoit, chief of the 
Wampanoags, did not like their Indian names, and dropped 
them for the heroic names about which they had been told. 
Alexander, the elder, at the decease of Massasoit filled his 
father's place as chief, and after some secret plans against 
the Colonists were discovered, he was arrested and im- 
prisoned. This, it is said, so greatly mortified him that 
it brought on a fever, from which he died. 

His brother Philip, his successor, was greatly incensed 
against the Colonists at the treatment of Alexander, and 
this was one of the incentives that brought about the war. 



6o History of MarshHeld. 

He was especially angered against our townsman, Winslow, 
then governor of the Colony, for the seizure of his brother 
Alexander, so much so that during the war the governor 
and commander-in-chief felt it wise to "send his wife and 
children away from their home in Marshfield to Salem, and 
to put his house in a complete state of defense." 

Gov. Winslow had a large territory to cover in the war 
with King Philip, extending to Mount Hope (now Bristol, 
R. I.), to Swansey, Brookfield, and even to Maine. King 
Philip had succeeded in interesting many other tribes in his 
attempt to exterminate the whites. I will give here an 
instance of the dogged determination of King Philip and 
his followers with which our townsman had to deal : 

"In Brookfield," says Baylies, "the English were about 
to treat with the Indians for peace, and they appointed a 
place of meeting. Captains Wheeler and Hutchinson both 
proceeded to the appointed place, accompanied by the horse 
and some of the principal inhabitants of Brookfield. Find- 
ing no Indians at the appointed place, they determined to 
proceed to their town. So unsuspicious were the inhabi- 
tants of any danger, that they went without their arms. 
Having marched four or five miles farther, they came to 
a place called Momimimissit, where, on one side, a high hill 
rose almost perpendicularly from the road; the other was 
skirted by an impassable swamp. In this narrow pass they 
were assailed by three hundred Indians, who lay in ambush ; 
the savages rose from their lurking places, and poured upon 
the devoted English a destructive fire. Eight were killed 
instantly, and three mortally wounded, amongst whom was 
Captain Hutchinson. Captain Wheeler's horse was killed 
under him, and he received a shot through his body, but 
his life was savtd by the desperate courage of his son, who, 
seeing his perilous situation, notwithstanding his own arm 
had been broken by a bullet, dismounted from his horse, 
upon which, disabled as he was, he contrived to place his 



History of MarshHeld. 6i 

father, and then, catching another, whose owner had been 
killed, he mounted, and both escaped; and afterwards re- 
covered of their wounds." 

"The whole road from the place where they had been 
ambushed, to Brookfield, was waylaid by the enemy, but one 
of the inhabitants being acquainted with a path through the 
woods but little travelled, led the remnant of this unfortun- 
ate company in safety through this path to Brookfield, which 
they had scarcely reached, when the Indians, fresh from 
the slaughter, rushed into the town, breathing threats of 
extermination. 

"The inhabitants had been alarmed, and had collected 
for the purpose of making a better defence into one house, 
where they were joined by Captain Wheeler and the rem- 
nant of his company. The Indians, after vainly endeavor- 
ing to cut off the retreat of five or six men who had been 
to a neighboring house to secure some property, and killing 
one Samuel Pritchard, instantly fired the town, and collected 
their whole force to attack the house to which the English 
had retired. 

"The only mode by which the house could be fortified was 
by piling large logs on the outside, and hanging up feather 
beds against the walls within. By these means the force 
of the bullets was deadened. For two whole days the 
Indians continued to assail the house, constantly pouring 
in a fire of musketry. Fastening firebrands and pieces of 
cloth, which had been immersed in burning brimstone, to 
long poles, they vainly essayed to set it on fire. They 
kindled a large heap of combustibles directly against it, 
which compelled the English to leave it, to draw water from 
the well, which was in a small yard, surrounded by a board 
fence, and open to the enemy's fire, yet they succeeded in 
extinguishing the flames, and only one man was wounded. 

"Baffled in every attempt, the Indians at last filled a cart 
with hemp, flax, and other combustibles, and connecting a 



62 History of Marshfield. 

number of poles together, began to push it backward against 
the house, but this fire was quenched by a sudden shower 
of rain. The scene was terrific. The Indians were trans- 
ported with rage. Their faces hideously caricatured with 
paint, their passionate gestures, and the wild and furious 
expression of their countenances, after the repeated obstacles 
which had prevented their purpose, all conspired to excite 
the unfortunate inmates of the house with the most gloomy 
and fearful apprehensions, but their courage never quailed. 

"The Indians offered no quarter, and they disdained to 
ask it, but with stout hearts stood steadily to the contest. 
Within the house were seventy souls, and what added to 
the horror of the situation, many of them were women and 
children. At last, by one of those chances which some- 
times occur when all hopes of relief seem to be terminated, 
they were succored by a company of English from Boston, 
who marched to their relief, and they were relieved." 

The tribe of Narragansetts joined King Philip, but after 
our English soldiers enter their country, made peace with 
them, and among the articles of the treaty was the following : 

"VI. The said gentlemen in the behalf of the govern- 
ments to which they do belong, do engage to the said sach- 
ems and their subjects, that if they or any of them shall 
seize and bring into either the English governments (Colo- 
nies), or to Mr. Smith, inhabitants of Narragansett, Philip 
sachem alive, he or they so delivering shall receive for their 
pains,, forty trucking cloth coats ; in case they bring his head 
they shall have twenty like good coats paid them; for every 
living subject of said Phihp's so delivered, the deliverer 
shall receive two coats, and for every head one coat, as a 
gratuity for their service herein, making it appear to satis- 
faction, that the heads or persons are belonging to the 
enemy, and that they are of their seizure." 

The generalship of our townsman and commander-in-chief 
was strikingly manifested by the victory gained over King 



History of MarshUeld. 63 

Philip and his warriors, although it was a long and cruel 
conflict, extending over a large territory of New England, 
and causing the destruction of a large amount of property, 
including six hundred houses, and leaving the Colonists 
with a heavy debt. The fate of King Philip is too familiar 
in history to repeat here. One act of the Colonists, how- 
ever, in connection with this war, leaves a stain on their 
reputation. King Philip's boy, an only child, was cap- 
tured, sent to Bermuda, and sold into slavery. This was 
the last of the good chief Massasoit's progeny. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
Dress of the Colonists. — Scolding Women. 

Some of the people in the Colony by 1650 began to dress 
more extravagantly than the magistrates dared to have them, 
and the General Court passed laws to prohibit the luxury 
and extravagance of dress. H. M. Earle says : "An estate 
of at least £200, or $666.66 2-3, was held necessary in order 
to allow any freedom of costly or gay attire. They also 
prohibited the wearing of gold, silver or thread lace, all cut 
works, embroideries or needlework in the form of caps, 
bands or rails; gold and silver girdles, hat bands, belts, ruffs 
or beaver hats; knots of ribbon; broad shoulder bands, silk 
roses; double ruffles or capes; gold and silver buttons; silk 
points, silk and tiffany hoods, and scarfs. Vain offenders 
against these sumptuary laws were presented by the score 
and were tried and fined. 

"Women in the Colony who were given to scolding, etc., 
were punished. May 15th, 1672, the General Court of 
Massachusetts ordered the scolds and raillers should be 
gagged or set in a ducking stool and dipped over head and 
ears three times." 

Miss Earl gives an account in Virginia of this ducking 
process, in a letter to Governor Endicott in 1634, as follows : 
"The day afore yesterday I saw this punishment given to 
one Betsey, wife of John Tucker, who by ye violence of her 
tongue, had made his house and ye neighborhood uncom- 
fortable. She was taken to ye pond where I am sojourn- 
ing by ye officer who was joined by ye magistrate and ye 
minister Mr. Cotton, who had frequently admonished her 
and a large number of people. They had machine for ye 
purpose, it belonged to the Parish & which I was told had 

64 



History of MarshUcld. 65 

been so used three times this summer. It is a platform 
with 4 small rollers or wheels & two upright posts between 
which works a lever by a rope fastened to its shorter or 
heavier end. At the end of ye longer arm is fixed a stool 
upon which sd Betsey was fastened by cord her gown tied 
fast around her feete. The machine was then moved up 
to ye edge of ye pond, ye Rope was slackened by ye officer 
& ye woman was allowed to go down under ye water for 
ye space of half a minute. Betsey had a stout stomach, 
& would not yield until she had allowed herself to be ducked 
5 several times. At length she cried piteously: 'Let me 
go ! Let me go ! by God's help I '11 sin no more.' Then 
they drew back ye machine, untied the Ropes & let her 
walk home in her wetted clothes, a hopefully penitent 
woman." 



CHAPTER XV. 

Our Pilgrim Fathers, as Compared to Puritans of 
Salem and Boston. 

Our Forefathers in Plymouth, Duxbury, Marshfield, 
Scituate, and other towns less prominent in the Colony, 
were much more humane in the treatment of the inhabitants 
within their precincts than were the Puritans in Boston and 
vicinity. In the latter region the poor Quakers, the most 
harmless and upright classes of citizens in Massachusetts, 
were most barbarously treated, and Governor Winthrop and 
Governor Endicott (especially the latter) proved themselves 
to be the most despotic rulers in their treatment of the 
Quakers. 

There were Mary Dyer and others, who were brave 
enough to declare their honest convictions, hung on Boston 
Common because they would not lie and declare that they 
would give up their Quaker principles. And again, Anna 
Hutchinson, one of the most intelligent and clear-headed 
women of Puritan days, was banished from the home she 
and her husband had established in the town of Boston be- 
cause, forsooth, she did not believe in the rigid doctrine of 
the Puritans, and publicly proclaimed her dissensions. 

Again, Roger Williams, the father of Rhode Island, ban- 
ished from the Massachusetts Colony because he would per- 
sist in advocating his principles, to the dislike of the Puri- 
tans; and what did the leaders of our good Pilgrim Colony 
do? Instead of rushing him out of the Colony, when he 
entered their midst, they offered him a home among them. 
But he would not accept, and journeyed at last to Rhode 

66 



History of MarshHeld. 6^ 

Island and established a colony at Providence, to which he 
gave the name. 

To be sure, there were some Quakers among them they 
did not like, but none did they ever punish by death, nor did 
they ever hang a witch, unlike the Puritans in the Massa- 
chusetts Colony, who seemed to delight in hanging and 
torturing these poor, innocent and harmless victims of a 
superstitious and bigoted Colony, convicted on the evidence 
largely of hysterical and nervous children. 

These persecuted people left England, as did our Pilgrim 
Fathers, for New England to have larger liberty in the 
enjoyment of their religious and honest convictions, and 
so did the Puritans, but they would not tolerate or allow 
anybody else that same privilege who did not agree with 
them. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Incidents Among the Colonists. 

In 1635 there was a great tempest in the Colony, Mr. 
Thatcher, who was at one time a citizen of Marshfield, was 
in a vessel off Cape Ann with his cousin, John Avery, and 
their wives and children, when a storm overtook them on 
Friday night. Saturday found the wretched people cling- 
ing to a rock, now called 'Avery's woe,' and there during 
the day the survivors lovingly comforted each other, as the 
waves with terrible deliberation singled out their victims. 
That night the only survivors were Thatcher, who had 
reached a rocky islet with his bruised wife, whom he dragged 
from the surges. A goat had also reached the rock, and 
a cheese, with some few trifles, washed ashore. It was 
Monday afternoon before the forlorn couple were rescued. 

"But few of the many thousands who pass and visit the 
two lighthouses on Thatcher's Island know of the terrible 
wreck and horrible suffering and endurance of those two sur- 
vivors on that fateful rock, from whom came the name." 

"In 1643 the confederacy, called "The United Colonies 
of New England," apportioned each town its quota of sol- 
diers. Marshfield was to furnish two, Scituate five, Dux- 
bury five, and other towns proportionately, according to 
the number of inhabitants. In 1689, the quota had 
changed; Plymouth only four, Scituate six, Duxbury only 
two, and Marshfield three. During King Philip's war 
Marshfield had to furnish twenty-six soldiers, Duxbury six- 
teen, while Plymouth furnished only thirty, to Scituate's 
fifty. But Marshfield furnished a commander-in-chief to 
all the forces in New England, Gen. Josiah Winslow. 

Some of the Indians were converted to Christianity, and 

68 



History of MarshHeld. 69 

they formed villages and made just laws of their own. 
Their form of warrants for arrests was as follows : 

"I Hihoudi : 

You Peter Waterman, Jeremy Wicket : Quick you take 
him. Fast you hold him. Straight you bring him. Be- 
fore me Hihoudi." 

Wolves, soon after our Forefathers settled here, became 
very destructive. They were attracted more than ever by 
the animal food introduced here and the other attractions 
of a settlement. So numerous did they become, that the 
Colony passed laws that each town should set traps to catch 
them. Marshfield was instructed to furnish and set two, 
and Scituate four. 

Mr. E. E. Williamson has in his possession the original 
of the following document, concerning the Common in front 
of the Congregational church in South Marshfield, which 
was transferred to the town by his ancestor, Timothy Wil- 
liamson, in 1663, o^ possibly 1665. The Lieut. White re- 
ferred to is no less a personage than Peregrine White, the 
first born of the Pilgrims after nearing or touching our 
coast : 

"Marshfield the 20th May 1663 [or 1665] at the town 
meeting. Timothy Williamson having formerly granted to 
the town a small parcel of ground to set the meeting house 
upon, and a pound to pound cattle, also for a training place 
which is now used accordingly, and the bounds of s'd land 
that he gave to the town doth by wayward along the train- 
ing place, and so to run of the south side of the after corner 
of the meeting house, and to form the after corner of the 
meeting house, square to the east way of the North side, and 
so to the westward Corner of this training place : and the 
town have granted to Timothy ten acres of ground to a 
former grant of thirty acres, which lyes on the farr side of 
the South River in lieu of his grant of his to the town. At 
the 2nd town meeting the inhabitants have appointed Lieut. 



yo History of Marshiield. 

White and William Foord Savaiours to lay out the tract of 
land formerly and laterly granted to Timothy Williamson, 
which is forty acres with that which was now granted. 
A true Copy Attest. Isaac Winslow." 

Comets were greatly feared by some of our ancestors, and 
lightning filled some with terror. The first fatal case from 
lightning among the inhabitants of the Colony was in July, 
1658, when John Phillips was struck at Marshfield. Eight 
years later, Grace, wife of Mr. Phillips, and her son John 
were killed by lightning at or near the same place. By the 
same stroke, a lad named Jeremiah Phillips and William 
ShurtlefT were also killed. Mr. Shurtleff had his child in 
his lap and was holding his wife by the hand to encourage 
her, but he alone was hurt. This storm immediately fol- 
lowed a fast on account of drouth and ended with a hurri- 
cane. "Prayer," the account continues, "was too effica- 
cious. There were but five cases, however, recorded during 
the existence of the Colony from 1620 to 1692." 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Habits and Customs of Our Forefathers. 
(From "History of Cape Cod.) 

"The habits and customs of our forefathers and mothers 
in Marshfield and elsewhere in the Colony," are important in 
this . history in showing the everyday life amongst them. 
Every man and woman was addressed as Goodman and 
Goodwife. No one in that era but the very highest classes 
in society, either those holding high offices or those of 
aristocratic birth, were given the titles of Mr. and Mrs. It 
was the habit in those days for the men to wear very long 
beards. In 1649 the custom of wearing long hair was 
gradually becoming a thing of the past. So bitter did the 
Colonists become against it, that the following edict was 
issued : 

" 'Forasmuch as the wearing of long hair, after the man- 
ner of the Russians & barbarous Indians, has begun to in- 
vade New England, contrary to the rule of God's word, & 
the commendable custom of all the godly, until within this 
few years, we the magistrates, who have subscribed this 
paper, do declare & manifest our dislike & detestation 
against the wearing of such long hair, as against a thing 
uncivil & unmanly, whereby men do deform themselves & 
offend sober & modest men & do corrupt good manners.' 

"Subsequently, grand jurors were in duty bound, under 
the laws, to prevent, and the court to punish, all such 
offenders. Tobacco was forbidden under a penalty, and 
some of the prominent divines compared the smoke to the 
smoke of the infernal regions. But when some of the 
dignitaries and the clergy got into the habit of smoking the 
'vile weed,' it was not long before the people at large ac- 

71 



^2. ^ History of MarshHeld. 

quired the habit," and their descendants have not forgotten 
it to this day, the beginning of the 20th century, for milHons 
of dollars (I do n't dare say how many) are spent in smoke 
to poison the air, to the disgust of the tidy housekeeper. 

"Periwigs were not much worn in Pilgrim days, not 
coming into use until the era of the Revolution." 

Freeman says : "The style of dress, as well as the manner 
of living was much more favorable to health than in modem 
times, and pulmonary affections were much less frequent 
than now. A young person was rarely visited with con- 
sumption. Milliners and tailors were not much in demand. 
The females generally, whether old or young, it has been 
said, were content with a homespun flannel gown for winter 
and wrappers for summer. The latter were without a 
waist and gathered at the top. For occasional dress a 
calico or poplin was enjoyed, sleeves short, reaching only 
to the elbow, with ruffles ten inches wide. Caps were sel- 
dom worn, except in full dress. Both leather and broad- 
cloth shoes, with high, wooden heels, covered and peaked 
toes turning up, were worn by females. Masks were some- 
times used in cold weather in traveling far. Prunelles and 
brocades were a luxury, not much indulged in for a long 
time, and when these were once obtained, they lasted long, 
being transmitted from mother to daughter through succes- 
sive generations. 

"Ver)^ early the wardrobe of females was the subject of 
legislation, and excess of apparel, strange, new fashions, 
naked breasts and arms, and pinioned, superfluous ribbons 
on hair or apparel, were sufficient to subject the offender 
to prosecution and penalties. The men, old and young, 
had one coat and vest, small clothes and fur hat. Old men 
had also a great coat and a pair of boots reaching to the 
knees. Young men would have been thought effeminate 
had they worn overcoats. A writer familiar with the times 
says: T remember that a neighbor of my father provided 



History of Marshfield. 73 

his four sons, between 19 and 30 years of age, one with a 
pair of boots, the second with a surtout, the third with a 
watch, and the fourth with a pair of silver shoe-buckles. It 
created a neighborhood talk, and the family were considered 
on the high way to insolvency.' 

"The meals in those days were frugal, the course at din- 
ner being in winter ordinarily : first, porridge, a broth with 
a few beans thrown in and seasoned; second, an Indian 
pudding with sauce, and third, boiled pork and beef, with 
potatoes and pumpkins. Suppers and breakfasts were 
usually alike, milk with toasted bread in it, or sweetened 
cider, hot in winter, with bread and cheese. On Sabbath 
mornings they indulged in chocolate sweetened with mo- 
lasses, and the concomitants were pancakes, doughnuts, 
brown toast, or pie. They had no Sunday dinners until 
both meetings were over, but then, the intermission was 
short; after meetings, a sparerib, a stew pie, or a roast beef, 
goose, chicken or turkey made up the repast, with a few 
et ceteras." 

We in New England in the 20th century would not con- 
sider this a bill of fare to starve upon. Many of the 
farmers in Marshfield and elsewhere on the shore, are work- 
ing their farms on a far more scant menu, than the "poor" 
Pilgrim who was fortunate enough to get a dinner, supper 
or breakfast on Sunday or any other day, like that. But 
bread and milk was undoubtedly most of the year the meal 
of the common class. "Wheat was sown, and when har- 
vested was used in various ways. It was ground, the meal 
not bolted, but simply passed through a sieve. The corn, 
before mills were provided, was pounded in a mortar, usu- 
ally with a stone or wooden pestle. The mortar used was 
generally a large log, hollowed out at one end. 

"The first houses had steep roofs, and generally thatched. 
The fireplaces were so large that children might sit within 
the corners and look out in the evening at the stars, through 

Marshfield vi 



74 History of MarshHeld. 

the chimney, if they would. Logs four feet long and sev- 
eral feet in circumference, which required all the strength 
of a strong man to roll them in, were placed back, a fore- 
stick of corresponding dimensions was laid in front, and 
smaller wood was then filled in and heaped up; plenty of 
light wood or fat pine being at hand to revive the fire and 
in the evening to keep up a bright and pleasant light. Oil 
or candles were used only occasionally. 

"The chimneys sometimes were made of layers of wood 
notched at the crossing, the interstices filled in with clay, 
and the whole interior plastered with the same. The floors 
were nicely protected by a fine, washed, white sand. The 
immense andirons, with hooks to receive the spit holding 
over the dripping-pan the roast, enabled the housewife to 
furnish, with the aid of frequent turning and basting, a dish 
that the epicure now covets in vain. Roasts were then 
roasts. 

"In a few years houses of better construction began to 
appear — two stories in front, the roof in the rear sloped 
down to within six feet of the ground. The windows were 
supplied with hinges, opening outward, and were quite 
small. The glass was diamond shape, and set in sashes of 
lead. The dwelling houses were always so placed with 
front to the south, without regard to the street or road. 

Everybody went to meeting in those days, however dis- 
tant they resided from the place for public worship. Those 
who owned horses held them as justly liable to do service 
for any of the neighbors on meeting days, and it was no 
unusual thing for the owner and his wife, the one on a 
saddle and the other on a pillion, with perhaps a little boy or 
girl before the man and an infant in the woman's lap, to ride 
half way to the place of worship and then dismount on ar- 
riving at the halfway block and hitch the horse for the 
neighbors who set out on foot, walking themselves the rest 
of the way. Chaises or such-like vehicles were then un- 



History of MarshUeld. 75 

known. Travelling in stage and coaches was hardly 
dreamed of. Young men and maidens rarely thought of 
riding to meeting, even though the distance might be six or 
ten miles. Horses were all accustomed to pace, that they 
might carry the rider gently. 

"The duty of the sexton then required that he should 
attend to the turning of the hourglass. It was to be turned 
at the commencement of the sermon, and the minister was 
expected to close his sermon at the end of the hour. If he 
either exceeded or fell short of that time, it was alike re- 
garded as furnishing just cause of complaint. 

"By order of the General Court, corn and beans were used 
in voting, the corn representing the Ayes and the beans the 
Nays. A heavy penalty was imposed if any individual put 
into the box more than one. The candidates were voted 
separately until one was elected." 

"Tradition says that at the time of John Alden's marriage 
to Priscilla Mullens, and of his excursion from Plymouth to 
Barnstable, there was a destitution of horses and traveling 
equipage in the Colony and that it was not uncommon for 
oxen or bulls to supply the place. Mr. Alden rode on the 
back of a bull, with a piece of handsome broadcloth for a 
saddle, and on his return his bride was seated on the same, 
the happy bridegroom leading the bull carefully by a cord to 
the nose-ring." 



CHAPTER XVII. 
North River Ferry Boats and Other Matters. 

In 1668 the following was applied to Marshfield as well 
as other towns in Plymouth Colony : ''It is enacted by the 
Court, That all Swine wth in these Colonies shall be suffi- 
ently ringed after they shall be-tenn weeks old, and if that 
any shall be complayned of to be vnruly, that then they be 
yeoked, upon the penalty of six pence for every swine that 
shall be found unringed and not presently ringed upon 
warning given thereof, and this to be done by the first of 
November next." 

In 1649 ^^so the following: "Whereas there is greate need 
of a fferry boat to be erected to transport men & cattell over 
the North River, many complaining of the want thereof, 
and Such as passed that way were at great charge & put 
to many unconvenyences for want thereof ffor the redress- 
ing whereof. It is enacted by the Court That there shall be 
xijd for every family levyed throughout the Govrment 
towards the charges of the building of two vessells or boats 
for the transportacon of men and cattell over the said river 
at the now passage place. And that Mr. Jonathan Brew- 
ster shall have the keeping and the p'fitts (profits) of the 
said fferry to have and to hold to him and his heires forever 
and shall build and from tyme to tyme mayntaine two suffi- 
cient boats or vessels, one for the carrying of men and an- 
other for carrying of cattell on the said North River, wth a 
sufficient man or two to attend them. And shall have these 
rates for the first yeare viz: for a man ij d (two pence) for 
a horse & his rider vj d (six pence) for a beast vj d (six 
pence) for swine and goates ij d (two pence) And after 
the first yeare for men ij d (two pence) for a horse and his 

76 



History of MarshHeld. yy 

rider vj d (six pence) for a beast iiij d (four pence) and for 
a goate or swine j d (one pence), of all men of what plan- 
tation soeu (soever)." 

Another act says "that if one man only is carried over 
North River shall charge 4 pence & if more than one two 
pence each." In 1652, "Concerning such as are allowed 
to exercise men in arms in the several townes within this 
government the Court doth order as follows: Wm. Vas- 
sell and Wm. Hatch of Scituate, Capt. Standish of Plym- 
outh, Lieut. Holmes of Duxborrow, and Nathl Thomas 
of Marshfield," etc., etc. "Also enacted by Court the 
charge of Killing Wolves shall be bourne by the whole Col- 
ony & that they shall have for every wolfe so killed, a coat 
of trading cloth." "In 1655 There was also a penalty of 
40 shillings against any one found playing cards &c, also 
a fine of 12 pence for any one using Tobacco in the streets 
or about barns or corn stack or hay yards." Also enacted 
by court that if any English among the Indians allow horses, 
cattle, or swine on their premises, the stock shall be im- 
pounded and kept there until sufficient is paid them for 
damages. 

It was also enacted in 1659 that "every owner of horses 
shall take the first opportunity to mark & enter their horses 
according to order and in case any shall neglect so to do 
betwixt this & March Court next, shall forfite five shillings 
to the town for such default for every horse foimd un- 
marked." "The different towns in the Colony must use 
for a mark, initial letter of their town, and Marshfield's 
mark was, capital 'M.' " 

If our citizens of today were obliged to work as did the 
Forefathers of Marshfield in Pilgrim days, it might not 
only be better for the town, but also better for the lazy 
themselves. Here is what the Court of the old Plymouth 
Colony enacted in 1639: "ffor the preventing of Idlenes 
and other euills occationed thereby, It is enacted by the 



^8 History of MarsMeld. 

Court that the grand jurymen in every Towne shall haue 
power within their several Townships to take a specioll view 
and notice of all manor of psons (persons) married and 
single, dwelling within theire several Townships that have 
smale means to maintaine themselves and are suspected to 
lie Idlely and loosly and to require an account of them how 
they live; and such as they find delinquents, and cannot give 
a good account unto them. That they cause the constable 
to bringe them before a majestrate in their town if there 
be any, if there be none before the Selectmen appointed for 
such purpose that such course may bee taken with them, as 
in theire wisdomes shal bee pledged just & equall;" 

The list of freemen in Marshfield in 1643, that is, those 
who were admitted to the freedom of the Colony, who took 
the oath of allegiance to the Colony and were able to bear 
arms, was as follows: Mr. Edward Winslow (Governor) — 
Mr. Wm. Thomas (his assistant) — Josias Winslow — Ken- 
elme Winslow — Mr. Thomas Bourne — Mr. Edward Buckley 
Robte Waterman — John Dingley — Thorn. Shillingsworth 
—John Russell — & Mr. Nathaniel Thomas." 

We find in the Plymouth Colony Records that in 1670 
"Josias Winslow in behalf of the town of Marshfield brought 
suit against Nathaniel Thomas for neglecting & refusing to 
pay one pound seven shillings & ninepence due him for 
the ministry at Marshfield. The Court sentenced him to 
two pounds 15 shillings & sixpence." 

"John Low of the Town of Marshfield in 1671 for pro- 
faning the Lord's day by servile labor & contemtable words 
being minded of that abuse, the court fined 40 shillings or 
to be whipt." 

"In 1675 Wm. Wood of Marshfield for speaking con- 
temptously of Mr. Arnold on the Lord's day in Feb. last, 
as appears by evidence was sentenced by the Court to sitt 
in the stocks 2 hours the next training day at Marshfield." 

In 1676 we find on the Colony records that "a Jury 



History of MarshHeld. 79 

viewed the body of John Rose, late of Marshfield and found 
that on the 13th of February he being a gunning was over- 
come by the violence of the weather, which was the cause 
of his death." 

The selectmen and surveyors of Marshfield in early days 
were appointed by the Plymouth Colony Court. 

"In 1678 Elizabeth Low of Marshfield, a single woman, 
was publickly whipped for giving birth to a child, & the 
father of the child was sentenced to pay sufficient to support 
it." "In 1681, Timothy Rogers of Marshfield in the like 
manor, being lame & unfit in that respect, is freed from 
bearing armes & training." Also the court "did establish 
Mr. Nathl Thomas to be Captain of the Milletary of Marsh- 
field & Isaac Little Lieut, and Wm. Foord ensigne of said 
Company." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
Toimi Record Selections. 

Scituate and MarshHeld Bounds in 1682. 

"Articles of agreement between Scituate and Marshfield 
for boundary between them." 

1682. 

"Articles of agreement indented made an concluded the 
four & twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord 1682 — 
between Nathl 'Thomas & Saml Spragne Agents of the 
town of Marshfield of the one part and Thos Turner and 
Saml Clapp Agents of the town of Scituate of the other part 
witnesseth : That wheras the said towns by their several 
orders have chosen & impowered us the above named parties 
to make a final settlement of the bounds of or between the 
said towns at or in the North River that so the said Sedge's 
Islands or flats in or upon the said river may be settled to 
each of the said towns according to right and the inhabitants 
of neither town tresspass on the other by cutting or mowing 
of these flats or islands for the future. We the above 
named parties do by these presents mutually settle, deter- 
mine & agree that the bounds between the said of Marsh- 
field and Scituate shall be the main channel as it now runneth 
down the North River from the Upper part to the sea; and 
wheras at a place in the said river called Green Island, the 
said channel doth divide and runneth on both sides the said 
Island it is further agreed that the said Green Island shall 
be equally divided into two parts & the Southward part 
thereof shall belong to the said town of Marshfield, and the 
Northward part thereof shall belong to the said town of 
Scituate and in witness that this is and shall be the settled 
bounds between the said towns forevermore we have here- 

80 



History of MarshUeld. 8i 

unto set our hands this day and year above written. The 
Court have approved and confirmed the above written agree- 
ment & have ordered to be recorded. (Signed 
Testa — me — Thos. Turner 
Nathl. Morton — Secretary Nathaniel Thomas 

Samuel Clap 
Samuel Sprague" 
1684. 

"Agreed bv the inhabitants in town meeting that wheras 
the town shall purchase the lands that was formerly granted 
between Duxborrow and our town, but being after pur- 
chased by Nemasket persons of the Indians, they being 
willing that Duxborro and our town shall have their grant 
formerly given to the said towns, they reserving their pur- 
chase that Nemasket men laid out for the lands and the town 
hath voted that the said purchase shall be raised and paid by 
the inhabitants after the rate of the purchase of this whole 
town unto Josiah Wampetuck, the Indian. 

"Also made Saml. Sprague Agent for the town and in 
their behalf to agree with Namesket men as to that part of 
the purchase which concerned their purchase of the lands 
which was by the Court granted to Duxborow and our town 
lying about Mattakeesett viz : that part of the purchase that 
did concern our half of the whole lands aforesaid which was 
by the said Neemaskett men paid to the indians that so it, 
may be repay ed again to them." 

"Bounds Betwixt MarshReld and Duxborrow." 

"Wheras we whose names are underwritten are appointed 
by the towns of Duxborrow and Marshfield to run the lines 
and settle the bounds between the Townships of Duxborrow 
& Marshfield as by the Records of the said towns doth ap- 
pear we have accordingly run the said lines & settled the 
bounds as followeth : From the Rock that is flat on the 
top near the house of Clement King, Northwest to the 
North River and have marked several trees in the range 



82 History of MarshHeld. 

and about 12 or 15 rods North Eastward of Saml. Hatch's 
house, we raised a heape of stones & from the said rock 
South east to the Cartway between Samuel & Seth Arnold's, 
where we raised a heap of stones and from thence to Green's 
Harbor fresh the path to be the bound, and on the eastward 
side of said fresh, just above where the said way goes 
through it we raised a heap of stones and from thence on a 
straight line to a tree of White Oak with the top broken 
off called poles, which said tree stands by the Cartway just 
where an old footpath turned out of it towards Careswell 
and between the said ways and from thence on a straight 
line to the South west side of Edward Bumpus' land so 
called, when he formerly lived at Duck Hill, taking in the 
said lands of the said Edward Bumpus to the town- 
ship of Marshfield, and these bounds aforesaid to be the 
bounds betwixt the said townships of Duxboro and Marsh- 
field forevermore. 

''In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the 
three & twentieth day of February 1683. 

Signed 
Wm. Peabody — Nathaniel Thomas 
John Tracie — Samuel Sprague" 

A county road was laid out in 1684 "from Green's Harbor 
brook" at the bounds between Duxbury and Marshfield to 
"the path leadeth toward Robert Barker's, till it meeteth 
with Duxbury lands." 

1685. 

"The town upon enquiry of Sarah Staple and others find 
she hath not been in our town so as to make her an inhabi- 
tant here, did vote she should not be here intertained and 
warned her to depart out of this town by the selectmen. 
The town agreed & chose Capt. Nathl. Thomas — Lieut. 
Isaac Little and Sergeant Sprague or either of them to en- 
deavor to clear this town from any charge concerning Sarah 
Staple or the bastard child she saith she is with, and the 
town to defray their charge respecting the premises." 



History of Marshiicld. 83 

1686. 

"It is ordered that every housekeeper of this town shall 
kill or cause to be killed before the 12th day of July next 
six blackbirds, and so between the months of February & 
June annually on penalty of 3 shillings forfeit to the town 
for every housekeeper that neglecteth to kill his number of 
birds and all such birds' heads to be brought in to some one 
of the Selectmen who shall keep account of the same." 

"Whereas Mr. Arnold our minister is necessitated to build 
a barn on the ministry's land. & not knowing when it shall 
please God to take him hence, it was agreed & voted""^{^the 
inhabitants, none dissenting, that this town shall pay to his 
executors or administrators u-hat the barn shall be worth at 
his decease to be prized by indifferent men." 

1689. 

"In com.pliance with the desire of Thos. Hinckley, late 
Governor of this colony the inhabitants here have chosen 
Nath. Winslow and John Barker to advise with the said 
late Governor & those who werr of his old Council for a 
present settlement of government in this Colony and of the 
militia within the same for the preservation of the public 
peace and defence against a Common enemy and such other 
matters as may concern the welfare of this colony. And 
in order thereunto do advise that there be an election of 
Governor and assistants as soon as may be by all such as 
have liberty to vote in town meetings and such as the sev- 
eral towns respectively shall admit. And also choice of 
military officers by the inhabitants and soldiers in the sev- 
eral towns until the Supreme authority shall otherwise 
order." 

"In pursuance of the order of the last Court for the rais- 
ing money for the present expedition (King Williams' war) 
against the barbarous enemy, Indians, Saml Doggett. An- 
thony Eames, Ephraim Little, John Foster, promised to 
lend the town twenty shillings a piece to be repaid again by 



84 History of MarshHeld. 

the next town's rate in the same specie and Lieut. Little to 
recieve the same of them." 

"Lieut. Little bought the hiefer yearling that Thos. Ma- 
comber took of Hopestill Bisbee for a debt due the town 
and he to pay to the Selectmen for her 14s in money which 
money is to be employed in fixing arms and other accoutre- 
ments for three Indian Soldiers that are to go out against 
the Indian enemy this present expedition. It is ordered 
that each of the three soldiers of our town's proportion for 
the present expectation who shall willingly offer and list 
themselves shall have ten shillings in Money from the town 
as a free gift for their encouragement." 

"The town have voted that the pound keeper shall have 
paid him six pence for every horse, four pence for every 
neat beast & two pence for every swine and i penny for 
every sheep by such person as shall fetch such beast out of 
the pound." 

1694. 

"Agreed by the town Capt. Nathnl Thomas shall and may 
purchase what he can of those lands lying at Mattakeesett 
Ponds from the Indians which were formerly reserved by 
Josias; & he to be accountable to the town for what he 
shall so purchase and the town to reimburse him or pay him 
his disbursements touching the purchase of the same or he 
to have the lands so purchased to him & his heirs." 

1696. 

"The town granted unto Capt. Nathaniel Thomas and 
released and quitted claim to him and his heirs forever all 
the towns interest, claims & demands, whatsoever of and 
unto all the two hundred Acres he hath purchased of the 
Indians lying above the Indian Head River Pond (by virtue 
of an order of this town bearing date July 30 — 1694) ac- 
cording as the same is bounded in his deed he hath from 
the Indians, viz : by one deed from Jeremiah Memuntange 
and Abigail his wife bearing date the 15th day of May 1695 



History of Marshfield. 85 

and one other deed from Mathias Wampy dated the 4th of 
Sept. 1694." 

1694. 

"The inhabitants have agreed for the support of Thos. 
Weld in the work of the ministry amongst us, to pay him 
sixty pounds in money per annum and after that rate for 
the time he continueth amongst us. And if he shall settle 
among us, to pay him fifty pounds per annum in Money and 
the use of the farm belonging to the Ministry, put into good 
repair by the town for him." 

"Memorandum : That Lieut. Little paid Capt. Nathnl 
Thomas six pounds in Money for 40 pounds weight of 
powder, and bought 200 lbs. of weight of bullets for three 
pounds fifteen shillings in part for the land granted him at 
Mattakeesett, and the town order that the said Powder and 
bullets shall be kept at the Lieut's for the town's use. 

"The town voted that if any person or persons who hath 
or shall hire the 'Sedge flats' or islands in any of the three 
rivers belonging to this town shall be or have been molested 
or tresspassed on by others they may sue such trespasses and 
in case they be at any charges to defend the towns title, the 
town will reimburse them." 

1700. 

"The town did then & there vote that Dr. Little should 
supply the place for school master for the instructing of 
youth in reading, writing & ciphering in the said town for 
the year ensuing and the said Doctor Little did then promise 
and engage to the said town so to do." 

"The tcv/n made choice of Mr. Saml Sprague to be their 
agent to answer in behalf of the town in respect of a pre- 
sentiment that is made of the said town for defect of or not 
having a schoolmaster in the said town." 

1701. 

"Inhabitants of the town voted and agreed with Doctor 
Thomas Little to serve the town as Schoolmaster for the year 



86 History of MarshUeld. 

ensuing & in consideration thereof the town to free him from 
the poll tax for the said year and also to allow him 20 shil- 
lings." 

1702. 

Isaac Winslow was chosen Representative to Gen. Court. 

1703. 

"The town made choice of Captain Nathaniel Winslow to 
represent them in a Great and General Court to be holden 
in Boston or elsewhere the loth of this inst. March. 

"Also at said town meeting the town voted and also 
agreed with Mr. Peregrine White to be their schoolmaster 
for the year ensuing and in consideration thereof the town 
to allow and pay to him the said Peregrine White the sum 
of £1 — los and also that all persons that send their children 
shall pay to him sixpence a week above & beside the sum 
aforesaid for each child that comes to be instructed." 

1703. 

"The town ordered that every householder of this town 
shall kill or cause to be killed before the first day of July 
next six black birds and 30 between the months of February 
& July annually on a penalty of 3 shillings forfeit to be 
paid to and recovered by the town treasurer for the town's 
use from every housekeeper that refuses or neglected to kill 
said number of birds and all such birds to be brought in to 
the town treasurer who shall keep an account of the same 
and also any person or persons of the said town that shall 
be in to the said treasurer more than their number set on 
them in said order being grown birds shall be paid by the 
treasurer out of the town's stock the sum of two pence for 
each head so killed in the town, and brought in by them." 

"Also at a meeting appointed by the selectmen to let or 
hire out the common Sedge Flats & Islands in the North, 
South & Green Harbor rivers for this present year they did 
then hire out all the flats that belong to the town in Green's 
Harbor River to Doctor Thomas Little for 13 shillings also 



History of MarshHeld. 87 

all the common flats in the South River to Isaac Winslow 
for 18 shillings as also all the lower flats in the North River 
below Stephen's Island to Isaac Winslow for £1 — los like- 
wise all the upper flats in the North River above said 
Stephen's Island to Mr. Saml Sprague for £1 — 15s the 
money to be paid to the town treasurer by the persons afore- 
said at or before the 25th day of Dec. next ensuing." 

1704. 
"The proprietors of the town Commons of Marshfield 
being met on Monday May 22 — 1704 ordered, voted and 
acted that from the date hereof of any person or persons 
shall bark or milk or cause to be barked or milked for tur- 
pentine any of the pine trees in said Commons shall pay the 
sum of six shillings for each tree that shall be barked or 
milked." 

1705- 

It was agreed at town meeting "that in addition to the 
act for killing blackbirds that for those that cannot get 
blackbirds, that Squirrels & blue birds heads shall answer 
and serve in their stead being alike in number and being 
killed between the months of Feb. and July so as to save the 
fine." 

"Also the town voted to build a new meeting house ad- 
joining or near the old Meeting house (at or near Winslow 
burying ground), 44 ft. long, 34 ft. wide & 18 ft. between 
joints." 

Representatives' Salary in 170^. 

"Also to be paid to Isaac Little £13 — 7s." (Equal to 
$44.50.) 

1721. 

"Isaac Winslow — Jona. Eames. — Thos. Macomber were 
appointed by the town for the recieving & letting the town 
of Marshfield's proportion or part of the fifty thousand 
pounds of Public Bills of Credit on this province to be lodged 
in the hands of the Province Treasurer pursuant to an Act 



88 History of MarsMeld. 

of the General Court in March last. Ordered that the said 
trustees or by their order do fetch said part or proportion 
as soon as the Province Treasurer do notify them or the 
Selectmen of this town of said Money being ready for them. 

"Ordered that when said Money is recieved the said trus- 
tees shall post up a notification thereof so that persons de- 
serving thereof may apply themselves therefor to said Trus- 
tees. Ordered that the said Trustees or the Major part of 
them, do let out said monev to inhabitants of this town 
being freeholders to each person not exceeding twenty 
pounds nor under ten pounds to be proportioned among 
those who shall lay claim for the same at or before the first 
meeting of said Trustees and so not exceeding twenty pounds 
nor under ten pounds for the space of a month next after 
said first meeting. 

"Ordered that in case the whole of said money be not 
drawn out within the said first month that then the said 
Trustees shall let out the remainder to any of this town's 
freeholders by such sum as they shall desire, ordered that 
in case the whole of the money be not drawn out within the 
next month after the said first month that then said trustees 
shall let out the remainder to any freeholder of the Countv 
of Plymouth," etc., etc., etc. The trustees gave bonds for 
their trust. 

1 72 1. 

"The town appropriated fifty pounds to be raised out of 
the interest of the town's money, toward the relief ot the 
distressed people in Boston viz: to those that are reduced 
to straights by reason of the distemper (Sjnall Pox — ) and 
to be sent them in wood and to be put into the hand of Dan- 
iel Oliver Esq. Mr. Thomas Gushing, Mr. James George 
and Mr. Saml Marshall of Boston for the use aforesaid & 
to be given out to such person as they in their prudence shall 
think have most occasion." 



History of MarshHeld. 89 

1725- 

"At a meeting of the town, an attempt was made for an 
appropriation to build a meeting house & school house in the 
North part of the town, but it failed of a Majority vote." 

1727. 

"At town meeting the town voted that any person in this 
town shall have the keeping of the town's new law book 
that will give the town most money for it and keep it for the 
use of any of the inhabitants of said town to look into as 
they need but not to carry it from the person that pays his 
money to the town Treasurer for it — Mr. John Little bid 23 
shillings for the priveledge of keeping the said book & is to 
have it, paying his money as above said." 

"Also agreed that if any persons shall appear to make 
as much and convenient room for the Negroes and Indians 
as they now use without prejudice to any other seats in the 
meeting house at their own change shall have liberty to 
have those seats they use to set in to build pews." 

"Also the town agreed that the Swine belonging to the 
inhabitants of this town have liberty to run at large for the 
year ensuing being well yoked and ringed as the law direct." 

In 1728 Marshfield appointed a day for letting out the 
town's part of £60,000 which the General Court appropriated 
to the towns, to be let to freeholders of the town in sums not 
exceeding £20. on good security. 



Marshfield vn 



CAPTER XIX. 
Indians — Wolves — Whipping Post — Lands. 

In 1689, the town of Marshfield manifesting some dislike 
to its captain, the Court ordered "that the Company be com- 
manded by the lieut. and ensign until the next General 
Court." 

1689. 

"On account of some unfriendliness shown against our 
colonists, the Selectmen of Marshfield, as well as other 
towns in the Colony, do not allow the Indians within the 
bounds of Ply. Colony pass not out by night or day without 
a certificate from them, on pain of imprisonment and that 
Indians coming from other colonies without passes be se- 
cured and examined, before a military officer or magistrate 
and proceeded with." 

Also the court ordered "that if any person, English or In- 
dian, apprehend and bring before authority any man that 
is an Indian enimy, he shall have ten pounds for a reward 
if he bring him, alive, and five pounds if killed, provided it 
be evident it be an enimie Indian." 

There were eighteen wolves killed in the Plymouth Col- 
ony in 1689 and 1690. 

In the Plymouth Colony Records we find the following 
in 1655 : "Item, we present the town of Marshfield for want 
of a pound, stocks, & whipping post, contrary to order," 
which, we take it, means warned. Even the Colonists were 
given to slander then, as now, for we find in the Colony 
records that "Jos Silvester gave his bond for 20 pounds for 
Dinah Silvester that she should appear in Court in 1660 in 
answer to a complaint made by Wm Holmes & wife about 
a matter of defamation. Geo. Vaugham of Marshfield for 
not attending public worship was fined 10 Shillings." 

90 



History of MarshHeld. 91 

It would not seem that in 1665, when the town had so 
few inhabitants, that it was necessary to have five Selectmen. 
The Court of the Colony, however, appointed "Leift. Pere- 
grine White, — Ensigne Mark Eames — Anthony Snow — 
John Bourne — Wm. Foard." Now, in 1900, we have but 
three, and one, I think, would do the town better and more 
economical service, but the town from the time of the Revo- 
lution, as near as I can learn, have elected their three Select- 
men in the North, Middle, and South parts, commonly 
known as districts, but not divided legally by town authority. 

We find in the Colony records the marriage of the Pilgrim 
ancestor of the Little family in Marshfield. "Thomas Lit- 
tle and Ann Warren in 1633 Apr. 19th," probably in Plym- 
outh, as it was several years before Marshfield was settled. 
We find also in the same year the following of Mr. Little : 
"John Barnes hath sold unto Thomas Little, one shallop in 
consideration of one pound of beaver rd in hand and three 
Ewe goats to be dd [delivered] in June ensuing, whereof 
one to be a yeare old & the other two between the age of 
two & three yeares, all giving milke at the same time." 

During the first year of the incorporation of Marshfield, 
1640, "Land was granted to Geo. Soule, a meadow he de- 
sired against Mr. Prince's lands at Green Harbor." Lots 
also of fifteen or twenty acres to different persons about this 
time were granted. A dozen Colonists were granted from 
thirty to eighty acres each by the Court. William Thomas, 
assistant to Governor Edward Winslow, was granted a large 
lot of land, fifteen hundred acres, in the neighborhood of 
Green Harbor and adjoining the estate of Governor Wins- 
low. Governor Winslow and William Thomas owned to- 
gether some 2700 acres. 

In these early days Josiah Winslow, youngest brother of 
Edward Winslow, settled near Kenelm (another brother of 
Governor Edward), who lived northerly of Green Harbor 
river. Said Josiah was town clerk of Marshfield for many 



92 History of MarshHeld. 

years. Town meetings were held in the churches until 
1838, and afterward in the old Town House, near the present 
site of the Almshouse, which was abandoned for the new 
Hall in the Ventress Memorial Building in the last decade 
of the 19th century. In 1654 a mill was authorized to be 
built in the town at South River for the grinding of corn. 



i 



CHAPTER XX. 
Churches. 

At Marshfield, several substantial Welshmen settled by 
invitation of Governor Edward Winslow, and with them 
came Richard Blinman, who was pastor here in 1641-2 
(but a year after the town was incorporated and the first 
church built). He was a scholar, "and may have been in 
advance of the times, for he was in disfavor." He and his 
countrymen soon went to Cape Ann. 

Pastors. 

"It would seem," says Baylies, "that Mr. Blinman, al- 
though in the phraseology of the day, 'a godly and able 
man,' was not well received by the austere Puritans of 
Marshfield, who compared him to a 'piece of new cloth in 
an old garment.' He was a learned man, and wrote a 
treatise in defense of infant baptism." 

Next came Edward Bulkly (graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1642). He was the able and learned son of the first 
pastor of Concord. *"The third minister here was Saml 
Arnold in 1657, then followed in 1696 Edward Thompson, 
in 1707 James Gardner. In 1706 the third meeting-house 
was built on the site of the old. [These meeting-houses 
were the first in Marshfield, and were erected on the same 
site, in the vicinity of the old Winslow burying ground.] 
Mr. Gardner continued as the minister at this church until 
his death in 1739. 

In 1738 the second Congregational society was incor- 
porated in the north part of the town ; and a meeting-house 
built, on or near the site at Marshfield Hills where the Uni- 
tarian church now stands in 1901, which the people in the 



*Wm. T. Davis in "History of Plymouth County." 

93 



94 History of MarshHeld. 

south part of the town within the limits of the old parish 
denominated the 'Chapel of Ease.' In 1826 the old meet- 
ing-house was taken down and a new one was erected. In 
1848 the new meeting-house was remodeled after plans fur- 
nished by Isaiah Rogers (an eminent architect). 

"Rev. Mr. Bryant first officiated in the church after its 
incorporation, serving but one year. Then Rev. Atherton 
Wales, a graduate of Harvard College in 1726, officiated. 
His ministry extended over fifty years. He was then fol- 
lowed by Rev. Elijah Leonard, who continued for forty- 
eight years. After his death. Rev. Luke A. Spofford 
supplied the pulpit for one year. At this time, in 1833, 
the church was nearly equally divided between the old and 
the new faith. As, however, in the old church the evan- 
gelical portion of the congregation prevailed, so here the 
liberal wing predominated and the Rev. George Leonard 
(whom we remember as a "grand old man") was settled, 
and preached here twenty-five or more years." 

As a result of this action, a new society was organized in 
1835, under the name of the Second Congregational Trinita- 
rian Society. A new church was built, and is now standing 
just belovN^ the old (Unitarian) church and nearly opposite 
the Clift Rodgers Free Library Building. "Its ministers 
who have preached there are Rev. Eli Smith, followed by 
Rev. Elbridge G. Howe, Rev. Sumner Clark, Rev. F. 
A. Fiske, Rev. Daniel D. Tappan, Rev. Luther Farnham, 
Rev. F. F. Williams, Rev. J. C. Seagrave," and others since, 
whose pastorates have been so short it is not worth while 
to enumerate them in these pages. The same may be said 
of the many pastors who followed the Rev. George Leonard 
in the Second Congregational Society (Unitarian). In 
this Second Congregational Society during the Revolution 
"a military company was organized among their numbers 
and entered in the records of the church." 

Returning to the First Parish in South Marshfield, its 



History of MarshHeld. 95 

fifth pastor was Rev. Samuel Hill, in 1740. He was fol- 
lowed by Rev. Joseph Green in 1753. In 1758 a new meet- 
ing-house was built on the site of the old one. Rev. Thos. 
Brown, in 1759, succeeded, and was followed by Rev. Wil- 
liam Shaw in 1763. In 1798, the Baptist Religious Society 
of Marshfield was incorporated, and near this date a meeting- 
house was built in the west part of the town. In 1850 the 
house was remodeled and enlarged. Pastors filling the 
pulpit were Joseph Butterfield, Barnabas Perkins, Thomas 
Conant, Benjamin Putnam, William H. Hall, and others 
following with short pastorates. The present pastor in 
1901 is Rev. Mr. Knobb. 

The Second Baptist Society in North Marshfield, near 
the village of Marshfield Hills, built their church in 1826. 
Rev. S. Ripley was ordained as its first pastor, and was 
followed by numerous others, whose pastorates were short. 
Rev. Jacob Davis, now living here in 1901, nearly 90 years 
of age, preached for five or six years, over a quarter of a 
century ago. The pastorate is now filled by Rev. Thomas 
Goodwin, who has preached there for the past dozen or more 
years. 

The present site and part of the edifice of the Grand Army 
Post at Marshfield Hills was occupied for many years in the 
early part of the last century as an Episcopal church. Capt. 
Luther Little and Capt. Luther Rogers and families, who 
were among the leading men in town, were prominent par- 
ishioners, and long after the closing of the church for want 
of attendance, the latter, all alone, would go with his Bible 
each Sabbath into the church to commune with his God. 
For half a century there have been no services there, and 
the building, about thirty or forty years ago, was purchased 
by the late Wales Rogers and a floor put in midway, dividing 
the upper part from the lower. The lower story for some 
years was used for a paint and wheelwright shop, and the 
upper portion for a hall, Roger's Hall, the only hall then in 



96 History of MarshHeld. 

the village. Not such a hall as we have now ! Benches, 
mostly without backs, to sit upon, and large wood stoves to 
heat the hall, with no platform to speak upon. But many 
good times were enjoyed there, dramas, concerts, lectures, 
and dances. 

"In 1824," says Davis, "the Methodist Episcopal Society 
built an edifice in the central portion of the town, and in 
1854 they built the present meeting-house, about a quarter 
of a mile northerly of the Agricultural Fair grounds. Lewis 
Janson was the first settled pastor, in 1830, followed by 
others every two years or more to the present time. 

"Returning to the First church again. Rev. Mr. Shaw 
preached there until his death, in 1816, having preached 
fifty years. Beginning in 181 7, Rev. Martin Parris offici- 
ated. He preached until 1836. Rev. Seneca White was 
installed in 1838. Before Mr. White was settled, the pres- 
ent edifice near the Marsbfield railroad station (Cohasset & 
Duxbury Railroad) was built, when the society moved into 
its new quarters. The eleventh pastor of the church was 
Rev. Eben. Alden, installed in 1850, who preached here 
many years and is remembered as one of the best men that 
Marshfield ever had within its borders. He resigned his 
pastorate a few years ago, and died about two years since. 
He has been followed by several pastors; Rev. Mr. Lucas has 
recently been settled there. 

At this church our very eminent townsman, the Hon. 
Daniel Webster, attended, when at home in Marshfield. 
There are two more churches which have been built within 
the last decade at Brant Rock and Green Harbor. One is 
Unitarian, and the other a Union church. The pastor at 
the Unitarian church now preaching is Mrs. Whitney. 

I do not find it recorded that any specially bigoted preach- 
ing was indulged in by our Marshfield pastors, but it is said 
of Mr. Treat, eldest of twenty-one children of Governor 
Treat of Connecticut, who preached at Eastham in 1672, 



History of Marshiidd. 97 

"that he was wont in his stalwart sermons to dwell on the 
delight with which the tortures of his impenitent hearers 
would be witnessed by God, while they writhed in hell with 
a thousand de^-ils rending and tearing and macerating them 
through all eternity." 

The Second Congregational Trinitarian (Orthodox) 
church at Marshfield Hills was fortunate a decade or more 
ago in having in a will left by the late Henry Tilden of 
Marshfield Hills, a legacy endowing it with a fund as fol- 
lows : $5,000 for a parsonage and church purposes; $1,300 
of it has been used for the purchase of a parsonage, and the 
income of the balance unspent is for the use of the church. 
A still larger endowment was left to it by Mr. Tilden, being 
the residue of his property after the payment of certain 
bequests. It amounted to $18,000, but by his widow claim- 
ing a dowser right, the Court av/arded her $1,000, in addi- 
tion to the bequest to her by the will, and also one-half of the 
interest or income of the $17,000 during her life, the church 
having the other half interest, and at her decease the whole 
of the income passes to the church; on one condition, how- 
ever, namely : As long as the church continues in the same 
evangelical faith as now. When it departs therefrom, it 
is to be transferred to the First Congregational church at 
South Marshfield, and if that church should depart also from 
the evangelical faith, it must then be given to the Massachu- 
setts Home Missionary Society. 



CHAPTER XXL 

Town Record Selections. 

1728. 
"The town raised £22 — los for defraying the charge of 
the Preaching to the neighborhood at the North part of the 
town for 13 Sabbaths in the Winter & Spring." 

1730. 
An attempt was made in town meeting to divide the South 
part of the town from the North, into precincts, but failed 
a majority vote. 

1731- 

"The town agreed to pay Mr. 'Greenhfe' for every Sab- 
bath Day he hath or shall preach to the neighborhood at the 
North river in the Months of Dec. Jan. Feb. & March." 

1732. 

At a town meeting, voted "that John Barker & Cornelius 
White do represent the town as agents to make answer to 
-a petition of several persons in the Northerly part of said 
town at the Great & General Court at Boston on Friday the 
23rd inst and that whereas divers persons in the Northerly 
part of Marshfield have complained to the Great and General 
Court of the long travel to the public worship of God, in that 
the meeting house stands too near the southerly end of said 
town, a vote was called to know the mind of said town 
whether they would free all those who have subscribed to 
a petition bearing date the last dav of May 1732, from the 
maintenance of the present minister, provided they maintain 
a minister amongst themselves, and the town be discharged 
from their 'Chappel of Ease,' the four months in the year 
and said vote passed in the affirmative." 

98 



History of Marshfield. 99 

1733- 
"Paid John Baker for killing three wild cats." 

1736. 
Again an attempt was made to divide the town into the 
North and South precincts, but failed of a majority vote. 

1738- 

"At a meeting of the town it was voted that there be 30s 
a sabbath raised by the town for the use of the ministers that 
preached at the 'Chappel of Ease' in the month of December, 
January, February & March, for so much time as there was 
preaching there. 

"Also ordered that there be care taken in this town to 
destroy the birds & vermin that are destructive to the corn 
& to that end the town came into the following act or by law, 
viz : That the head of every family in this town be obliged 
to procure and bring in to such persons as the town shall 
choose six heads of the following birds, or red squirrels viz : 
Crows — Crow bill black birds, threshers, & every head of a 
family that shall neglect so to do shall pay a fine of 5 shil- 
lings to the Treasurer to the use of the poor of said town, 
&c. &c. &c." 

1762. 

"At a town meeting was presented a petition of a num- 
ber of the inhabitants respecting the catching BASS in the 
North River, so called in the winter season, which petitioners 
applied to the General Court to prevent, was laid before the 
town and after due consideration, thereupon, the vote was 
put to know the mind of the town whether an act may be 
passed in the General Court for the preservation of those fish 
and prevent their being thus taken in the winter season, and 
it passed in the affirmative." 



CHAPTER XXII. 

1765. 
Stamp Act and Other Matters. 

"Town meeting was held in Marshfield, October 14, 1765. 
The meeting being opened, the Stamp Act was read, and 
also the governor's speech at the General Court, and what 
they had done, &c. And then they proceeded and made 
choice of Abijah White, Esq., & N. R. Thomas, Esq., John 
Little — Capt. Dan^ White and Nehemiah Thomas as a Com- 
mittee to give Gen. Winslow, their representative, instruc- 
tions what part they would have him take, or means use to 
remove so terrible a calamity as threatens this Province, as 
well as all America, if the Stamp Act should take place, and 
what legal means that they shall think most reasonable & 
likely to have the Stamp Act repealed." 

"The committee of the town of Marshfield appointed to 
give instructions to their representative, John Winslow, Esq., 
what method he should take in order to have so grievous a 
calamity removed, as threatens this & neighboring govern- 
ments by the Stamp Act, and other things and matters now 
pending before the General Court, having taken upon that 
trust in behalf of the town, we are of the opinion that should 
that act take effect it would prove the great distress, if not the 
utter ruin of this Province, and do therefore advise and di- 
rect our representative to use all proper methods in every 
legal manner to get the said act repealed, and look upon 
themselves as holden and bound to abide by such determina- 
tion as the Grand Committee now sitting at New York 
should conclude on, unless something extraordinary should 
be in that report, which they cannot foresee, in such case our 

100 



History of MarshHeld. loi 

Representative to use his own discretion. And further the 
Committee are of the opinion that as the circumstances of 
the Province are at this juncture in a difficult situation and 
the people distressed in the payment of their present taxes, 
that our said Representative.be desired and directed to be 
very careful in making any new or unusual grants of money 
& to be a saving of the public revenue & of taxing the in- 
habitants of the Province as things will admit of. 

"And also we desire the said John Winslow, Esq., to show 
his disapprobation of the late riotous proceedings in the town 
of Boston in the month of September last." 

Signed, 
Abijah White — John Little, 
Nehemiah Thomas — N. Ray Thomas. 
1767. 
"At the town meeting the vote was put to know the town's 
mind whether hogs may go at large, in said town, the year 
ensuing, provided they are well ringed and yoked, according 
to law, and it passed in the affirmative." 

1772. 
June 29 — "An attempt was made to annex 'Two Mile' of 
Scituate to Marshfield, but failed." 

1773- 
"At a town meeting held, March 15, the town proceeded & 
voted to know the town's mind whether they will receive a 
number of petitions belonging to that part of Scituate called 
the Two Miles' to be set off from said Scituate, and to be 
incorporated in this town; and the Moderator declared the 
said vote to be in the affirmative, there being 50 votes for it, 
and 49 against." 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

1774- 
Tory Resolutions Passed by the Town. 

Jan. 31 — "At a town meeting held in Marshfield NathI 
Ray Thomas, Esq., (a Tory) was chosen Moderator. At 
said meeting, the said Moderator put to know the town's 
mind whether he should have leave to speak his mind and de- 
clare his sentiments relating to the things mentioned in the 
warrant, & it passed in the affirmative. 

"Then the vote was put to know their minds whether they 
will act upon the warrant, and it passed in the affirmative; 
then they proceeded & chose a Committee consisting of seven 
men, viz: Dr. Isaac Winslow — Nathl Ray Thomas, Esq., 
& Messrs. Elisha Ford, Seth Bryant, Wm. Stevens, John 
Baker and Ephraim Little, to take into consideration and 
draw up what they should think proper for the town to vote, 
and to make their report, on the adjournment at this meeting, 
and then the meeting was adjourned for the space of an hour, 
at the expiration of that term the committee made their re- 
port, which was as follows :" 

"This town taking into consideration the late tumultuous, 
and as we think illegal proceedings in the town of Boston in 
the detention & destruction of the teas belonging to the East 
India Co., which we apprehend will effect our property, if not 
our liberties, think it our indispensable duty to show our dis- 
approbation of such measures & proceedings, therefore, 
voted & resolved as the opinion of this town, — That this 
. town ever have and always will be good and loyal subjects to 
our Sovereign Lord, King George the 3rd, & will observe, 
obey and enforce all such good & wholesome laws as are or 
shall be constitutionally made by the Legislature or the com- 

102 



History of MarshHeld. 1 03 

munity of which we are members ; and by all legal ways and 
means, to the utmost of our powers and abilities will protect, 
defend and preserve our liberties and privileges against the 
machinations of foreign or domestic enemies. 

"2nd — Resolved, that the late measures and proceedings in 
the town of Boston in the detention and destruction of the 
teas belonging to the East India Co. were illegal and un- 
just, and of a dangerous tendency. 

"3rd — Resolved, that Abijah White, Esq., the present 
Representative of this town, be & hereby is instructed and di- 
rected to use his utmost endeavors that the perpetrators of 
those mischiefs may be detected and brought to justice, and 
as the country has been heretofore drawn in to pay their pro- 
portionable part of the expense which accrued from the riot- 
ous and unruly proceedings and conduct of certain individ- 
uals in the town of Boston, if application should be made to 
the General Court by the East India Co., or any other per- 
sons for a consideration for the loss of said teas, you are by 
no means to acquiesce, but bear your testimony against any 
measures by which expense may accrue to the province in 
general, or the town of Marshfield in particular; & those peo- 
ple, only, who were active, aiding and assisting or conniving 
at the destruction of said teas, pay for the same." 

"That our representative be & hereby is further directed 
and instructed to use his utmost endeavors at the General 
Court that the laws of this province be carried into due ex- 
ecution, and that all offenders against the same may be prop- 
erly punished. And we further declare it as our opinion that 
the grand basis of Magna Charta and reformation of Liberty 
of Conscience, and rights of Private Judgment is just, 
wherefore, we do renounce all method of imposition, violence 
and persecution, such as has been most shamefully exercised 
upon a number of inhabitants of the town of Plymouth by 
obliging them to sign a recantation, as called, and in case of 
refusal to have their houses pulled down, or they tarred & 



104 History of MarshHeld. 

feathered, and all this under the specious Mask of Liberty : 
"Signed" — Wm. Stevens — Nahtl Ray Thomas — Ephraim 
Little — ^John Baker — Isaac Winslow — Elisha Ford — Seth 
Bryant, which report was read and accepted, & then they 
voted that the Town Clerk record it and grant a copy to 
Abijah White, Esq., their present Representative, and he be 
to put it into the public papers." 

1774- 

"The vote was put to know the town's mind whether one- 
half of the annual town meeting for the future shall be held 
& kept at the North meeting house, in said town, & it passed 
in the affirmative." 

General Court Moved to Salem, Mass. 

"At a town meeting held in Marshfield, September 26, 
1774. At said meeting, Nehemiah Thomas was chosen to 
serve for and represent them in the session & sessions of the 
Great & General Court, or assembly appointed to be con- 
vened, held & kept, for his majestie's service, at the Court 
house in Salem upon Wednesday, the fifth day of Oct., 

1774." 

"A meeting of a body of the inhabitants of the town of 
Marshfield was held at the South Meeting house, in said 
town, the 8th day of October, 1774. Notified by the Select- 
men of said town, they made choice of Mr. Isaac Phillips, 
Moderator. At said meeting Nehemiah Thomas was unani- 
mously chosen to co-operate with the Representatives and 
others, who are chosen in the several towns in this Province, 
and appointed to meet at Concord in the County of Middle- 
sex on the second Tuesday of this inst., October, in order to 
form themselves into a provincial Congress Committee, and 
to take in to their most serious consideration what may be the 
most wise and prudent measure to be taken at this most 
alarming crisis of our public affairs, and what may be most 
likely to produce a radical change of our public grievances. 
And then they voted to defray the necessary expense of the 
said Nehemiah Thomas in the affair." 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

1775- 
Tories again in the Ascendant. 

"At a town meeting held in Marshfield, Feb. 20th, Dr. 
Isaac Winslow was chosen Moderator. At said meeting 
the vote was put to know the mind of the town, whether they 
will adhere to and abide by the resolves and recommenda- 
tions of the Continental & Provincial Congress or any illegal 
assemblies whatsoever, and it passed in the negative. 

"2nd — The vote was put to know the mind of the town 
whether they will return their thanks to Gen. Gage and Ad- 
miral Graves for their ready & kind interposition, assistance 
and protection from further insults and abuses with which 
we are continually threatened, and it passed in the affirma- 
tive. 

"3rd — They voted that a Committee be chosen to draw 
up and send the same to the said Gen. Gage & Admiral 
Graves, said committee consisting of 23 persons, viz : 
Abijah White, Esq.. (Representative) Dr. Isaac Winslow — 
Wm. Stevens — John Baker — Ephraim Little — Elisha Ford 
— Seth Bryant — Dea. John Tilden — Capt. Amos Rogers — 
Capt. Daniel White— Capt. Nathl Phillips— Seth Ewell — 
Paul White, Thos Little — Elisha Sherman — Simeon Keene 
— Capt. Cornelius White — Abraham Walker — Wm. Macom- 
ber — Lemuel Little — Abijah Thomas — Abner Wright & 
Job Winslow." 



105 

Marshfield vill 



CHAPTER XXV. 

1775- 
Preparations for the Revolution. 

"Mr. Benj. White was chosen to represent this town in 
a provincial Congress appointed to be convened and held at 
Watertown on the 31st day of this inst, May." 

"A meeting was held at the South Meeting house at 
Marshfield, loth day of July, 1775. Mr. Samuel Oakman 
was chosen Moderator. The vote was first put to know the 
town's mind whether it is necessary to keep a guard on our 
shore, & and it passed in the affirmative. 

"2nd — They voted to adopt a plan drawn by the Select- 
men and committee of correspondence, and inspection of this 
Regiment at a meeting held in Hanover on the 28th of 
June, 1775." 

"The town allowed Capt. Thomas & Capt. Jos. Clift 
£5-85 to pay their men employed to guard the shore, in said 
town, before the provincial company was stationed." 

1776. 

"The committee appointed at a previous meeting was di- 
rected to agree with six men to guard the seashore of the 
town for such a term of time as shall be determined by said 
committee, and to agree with them as to their wages, not to 
exceed after the rate of £2-8s per month." 

"At a town meeting. May 13, 1776, a vote was put to 
know the town's mind whether they will make an addition 
to the committee of Correspondence, Inspection & safety for 
the present year who were chosen at the last March meeting, 
and it passed in the affirmative. And then they voted that 
there be an addition of nine persons, and then they proceeded 

106 



History of MarshUeld. 107 

agreeable to direction of the General Court to choose, by 
written votes, and made choice of Capt. Thos Waterman — 
Capt. Wm. Thomas — Kenelm Winslow, Esq. — Isaac 
Phillips — Daniel Lewis — Israel Rogers — Peleg Rogers — 
Capt. Wm. Clift & John Oakman." 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

1776. 

Patriots and Patriotism. 

"Town meeting at the South Meeting house in Marsh- 
field, June 19, Mr. Sam^ Oakman, Moderator. At said 
meeting they voted the following instructions be sent to Ne- 
hemiah Thomas, Esq., their representative (at General 
Court held in Watertown, Mass.) viz: 'Your constituents 
not doubting of your patriotism, now in legal meeting as- 
sembled, think it necessary to instruct you touching the In- 
dependence of America.' " 

1776, June 19th. 
MarshHeld's Declaration of Independence. 

[Which ante-dates the Fourth of July Declaration of In- 
dependence by the Continental Congress. ] 

"To the amazement of your constituents, the King of 
Great Britian is become a tyrant. He has wantonly de- 
stroyed the property of the Americans, and wickedly spilled 
their blood. He has assented to Acts of Parliament, cal- 
culated to subjugate the Colonies unparalleled by the worst 
of tyrants. Our petitions he has rejected, and instead of 
Peace he has sent the sword. Every barbarous nation 
whom he could influence he has courted for the destruction of 
the colonies. 

"Once we would have expended life & fortune in defence 
of his crown and dignity, but now we are alienated, and con- 
science forbids us to support a tyrant whose tyranny is with- 
out refinement. Alliance with him is now almost Treason 
to our country, but we wait patiently till Congress, in whose 
counsels we confide, shall declare those colonies Independent 
of Great Britian. The inhabitants of this town, therefore, 

108 



History of MarshUeld. 109 

unanimously instruct & direct you that if the Continental 
Congress should think it necessary for the safety of these 
United Colonies to declare them Independent of Great 
Britian, that the inhabitants of this town, with their lives & 
fortune, will most heartily support them in the measure. 

Benj. White, 

Clerk of the day." 

"At said town meeting it was voted that Capt. Wm. 
Thomas — Capt. Joseph Clift and Benj. White be a commit- 
tee to call those persons to an account who have borrowed 
powder, balls & flints out of the Town's stock, & to receive 
the money of them in order to purchase town's stock. Then 
they voted that there be the sum, £24-0-0 raised in addition 
to the town's stock to be laid out in powder, balls, & flints. 
General Court ordered that the Declaration of Independence 
be printed, and a copy be sent to the ministers of each parish 
of every denomination, in this state, and that they severally 
be required to read the same to their respective congrega- 
tions as soon as Divine Service is ended in the afternoon on 
the Lord's day, after such publication, thereof, to deliver 
the said declaration, to record the same in their respective 
town or district books, then to remain as a perpetual me- 
morial thereof. In the name, & by order of the Committee 
of the Council. 

A true copy. Attest. John Avery, Dept. Sec: R. 
Derby, Jr., President; Salem, Massachusetts. By E. Rus- 
sell, by order of authority. 

"In the old South Meeting house in Marshfield, October 
7, 1776, a town meeting was held, and at said meeting the 
question was put to know the town's mind whether they will 
act upon the warrant for this meeting, and the vote passed in 
the affirmative unanimously. And after due consideration 
the question was put to know their minds whether they will 
give their consent to the proposals made in a resolve of the 
House of Representatives of this state, the 17th day of 



no History of MarshHeld. 

September last, viz : That the present house of Representa- 
tives of this state, together with the Council, if they consent 
in one body, & by equal voice should consult, agree on and 
form such a constitution and form of government for this 
state as the said house of Representatives, and Council as 
aforesaid, on the fullest & most mature deliberation shall 
judge, will most conduce to the safety, peace and happiness 
of this state in all after successors and generations, and that 
the same be made public for the inspection and perusal of the 
inhabitants before the ratification, thereof, by the assembly." 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Prices of Home Products during the Revolution. 

"At a meeting of the Selectmen and Committee of Cor- 
respondence for this town, held Feb. 19, 1777. At said 
meeting they agreed & determined to adopt the prices of all 
those articles affixed and settled by the General Court of 
this state in the act made to prevent monopoly and oppres- 
sion in those articles hereafter enumerated, which articles 
agreeable to an act of said General Court authorizing us to 
affix and settle for this town, respectfully, viz : [The prices 
are given in the document in English pounds, shillings & 
pence, are here changed to dollars and cents.] Good mer- 
chantable wheat $1.00 pr. bushel. Good, well-fatted, 
grass-fed beef, 3 2-3 cents pr. lb.; salt hay where it 
can be come at with team, 274 cents pr. hundred till 
Dec, after that 31 cents pr. hundred. English hay, 44 
cents pr. hundred. Salt pork of the best quality at 8 cents 
pr. lb. Men's best yarn stockings at 89 cents pr. pair — 
and in that proportion for an inferior quality. Men's shoes, 
made of neat's leather of the best common sort, $1.16 2-3 pr. 
pair; women's shoes, 84 2-3 cents pr. pair. A yoke of oxen, 
to work one day, 26 cents; a cart one day, 16 2-3 cents; a 
plow, one day to break up new ground, 36 cents, and for 
common green sward, 18 cents. For making shoes & 

pumps, men's & women's, 41 1-3 cents, and small shoes in 
like proportion. Cider at the press, $1.00 pr. barrel, & at 
other seasons, $1.33 1-3. For shoeing a horse, steel toes & 
calks, 89 cents, and shoeing oxen, in like proportion. Good 
hoes, 66 2-3 cents. Good board nails, $2.00, & shingle nails 
at $1.00 pr. thousand. A draft horse at 22 cents a day. 
Carpenters, 55 1-3 cents a day. Flax seed, 69 1-3 cents a 



112 History of MarshHeld. 

bushel. Housekeeping for a night — 24 hours — 16 2-3 
cents. Good merchantable boards, white pine or pitch pine 
of the best quality, $3.33 1-3 pr. M. Tobacco, 6 2-3 cents 
pr. pound. Good merchantable oak wood, at or near each 
meeting house in the town, $1.50 pr. cord, & other wood in 
like proportion. And it is further enacted by the General 
Court, aforesaid, that every person who shall sell any of the 
above mentioned articles at a greater price than settled and 
fixed for the same, or others not enumerated in a manifest 
disproportion thereto, upon conviction shall be fined for 
every article so sold of the price of 20 shillings or under, the 
sum of 20s, and for every article of a price above 20s a sum 
equal to that for which such article shall be sold. And 
every person who shall take & receive for his service and la- 
bor a greater sum of money than is settled and fixed for the 
same in & by this act, shall forfeit and pay a like sum of 
money to that which he shall take and receive for his service 
and labor. And it is further enacted that whosoever shall 
sell any goods, wares or merchandise, or shall do any ser- 
vice or labor at a greater price than is settled or fixed thereto 
in and by this, upon credit, shall not have or maintain any ac- 
tion for the recovery thereof, but shall be barred therefrom, 
and the person against whom any action shall be brought 
for recovery of such money, may plead the general issue 
thereto, and give special matter in evidence to the jury." 

"At a town meeting held March 6, 1777, it was agreed that 
Col. Anthony and Capt. Thos Waterman be a committee for 
the South part of the town, and Dea. Sam' Tilden and Capt. 
Amos Rogers for the North part to procure money for 
bounty in addition to what is already granted by this state, 
as an encouragement to the soldiers to enlist into the service 
of the Continental Army, the sum that shall be sufficient to 
allow the sum of ten pounds lawful money to such soldier 
who shall enlist and pass muster, for the towns, "Goto" 
(quota) for the term of three years, or during the war, if 



History of MarshUdd. 113 

not regularly, and by proper authority, sooner discharged." 
"At a meeting of the town in 1777 — a list of townsmen 
who had opposed the war and taken the part of tories, was 
published by the town." 






CHAPTER XXVIIL 
Gov. Josiah Winslow and Others. 

Goodwin says, "Edward Winslow of Marshfield, (Gover- 
nor) left one son, Josiah^, the future governor of the old 
colony, who also left one son, Isaac3, the latter left one son, 
John4, a future general in the British Army, & whose second 
son, Dr. Isaacs, (who built the present Winslow House in 
Marshfield, now standing) left a son, John6, and he a son, 
Isaac6, who died in Boston, the last to bear the name of 
Winslow, descending from the Pilgrim Gov. Winslow. The 
name of Winslow, however, has been honorably perpetuated 
through Governor Edward Winslow's three brothers, who 
settled near him in Marshfield." Rear Admiral Winslow, 
who sank the Alabama in the Civil War, was a descendant 
of the Winslows. 

The most eminent Winslow of Marshfield, after Gov. Ed. 
Winslow, the Pilgrim, was his only son, Josiah, an account 
of whom I have gleaned from the Massachusetts Genealogi- 
cal Register. "He had the command of a military company 
in Marshfield as early as 1652, and in 1658 was 
appointed Major, then Commander of the military 
force of the United Colonists, raised in King Phillip's Indian 
War. He was one of the Commissioners of the United 
Colonies in 1658, and re-elected for thirteen years. He 
was chosen one of the deputies, and in 1657, one of the as- 
sistants, & every year till 1673 — when he was elected gover- 
nor, which office he held seven years, until his death. He 
was the first native born general, & first native born gover- 
nor. 

"He stood upon the uppermost heights of society. Civil 
honors awaited him in his earliest youth; he reached every 

114 



History of MarshHeld. 115 

elevation that could be obtained, & there was nothing left 
for ambition to covet, because all had been gained. The 
governor acquired the highest military rank and had been 
engaged in active and successful warfare, with the highest 
command then known in New England. He presided over 
the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the gov- 
ernment. He lived on his ample paternal domain in Marsh- 
field, and his hospitality was not only generous, but accord- 
ing to the notions of the age, magnificent. 

"In addition to his military and civil distinctions, he had 
acquired that of being the most accomplished gentleman, and 
the most delightful companion in the colony, and the attrac- 
tions of the festive board at Careswell were not a little 
heightened by the charms of his beautiful wife. In 1657 
he married Penelope Pelham, by whom he had four chil- 
dren." 

One of the first acts of Josiah Winslow, as governor, was 
in the exhibition of larger sympathy for the Quakers, than 
his predecessors, Gov. Prence, who was tyrannical towards 
them. Gov. Winslow at once liberated a Mr. Cudworth 
and a Mr. Robinson, of Scituate, who were imprisoned on 
account of uttering sympathy for the persecuted Quakers. 

"The early colonists when they looked into their situa- 
tion, must always have felt a deep apprehension of possible 
evils; a sense of insecurity; an anticipation of the desola- 
tion, and bloodshed of an Indian War. At the time of his 
death the question was settled, the aborigines were con- 
quered, and such as remained in the vicinity of the English, 
were objects of commiseration rather than terror. In this 
great work Governor Winslow had been a principal and 
triumphant actor. His health was much impaired by the 
fatigues and exposures in King Phillip's War. He died at 
the early age of 53." 

In King Phillip's Indian War, with their townsman, 
Josiah Winslow, general-in-chief, Marshfield furnished a full 



ii6 History of MarshHeld. 

share of soldiers. Those who were killed were : Thos Little 
— Joseph Eames — Joseph White — John Burrows — Joseph 
Phillips — Saml Bumpus & John Low. 

Isaac Winslow, a son of Gov. Josiah Winslow, was town 
clerk of Marshfield for many years, and a Judge and Presi- 
dent of the Provisional Council of Massachusetts Bay. 

Gen. John Winslow, a son of above Isaac, was a member 
of General Court for many years, from 1739 to 1765, at va- 
rious times was town clerk, selectman, and a great military 
leader. 

A further account by Bacon, says of Gen. John Winslow, 
of Marshfield, great-grandson of Gov. Edward Winslow, 
that he led a battalion of New England soldiers in Gov. 
Shirley's Canadian expedition in 1755, and it was he who as 
commander of the English forces at Grand Pre, directed the 
harsh removal of the Arcadians from their homes in the love- 
ly village on the shores of the basin of Minas, sending them 
into "Exile without any aid and without an example in 
story," and we might add the most unchristian and uncivi- 
lized act ever committed in America, an offshoot, in fact, of 
the "dark ages." Longfellow's poem, "Evangeline," 
pictures it more vividly than any prose account of it. Gen. 
Winslow, of course, was only a tool in the hands of the 
King, but more is the pity that it should have fallen to the 
lot of the great grandson of our forefather Winslow, who 
was so just and liberal in all his deeds. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 
British Soldiers Quartered Here Among the Tories. 

Nathl Ray Thomas, who built and occupied the mansion 
before the Revolution, afterwards the residence of the Hon. 
Daniel Webster, was in direct line from Wm. Thomas, one 
of the first settlers of Marshfield. Mr. Thomas was a royal- 
ist. He was one of Gage's Madamus Councillors" (so 
called, because they were appointed to hold office during his 
pleasure, in place of being chosen annually by the popular 
assembly, as had been the method under the first charter). 

"When affairs" says Bacon, "grew threatening, 
he went to Boston, there joined the British army 
and sailed off with it, on the evacuation, to 
Halifax, never to return. He built his mansion 
house in or about 1774, and it was the scene of a little af- 
fair which might have had large consequences had not a 
certain British officer displayed that discretion which we are 
told is the better part of valor. This affair happened in 
Marshfield shortly after the Lexington-Concord outbreak. 
A detachm.ent of British troops called the 'Queen's Guards,' 
under Capt. Balfour, were quartered here in Mr. Thomas's 
mansion (now known as the 'Webster estate'), sent down 
from Boston, by Gage, at the request of the Loyalists of 
Marshfield and neighborhood, who feared trouble with the 
Patriots. In this house wine closets were constructed in 
the cellar by this British officer, Capt. Balfour, for the use 
of himself and officers, and were in existence until the house 
was burned a quarter of a century or more ago." Webster 
used them, let us hope, not too freely. 

"The presence of the troops in the Old Colony was re- 
sented, and when the news of Lexington and Concord came, 

117 



ii8 History of Marsh-field. 

it was determined to drive them out. Accordingly the 
Kingston and other minute men were one day marched over 
here. When near the place a halt was made, and a con- 
ference of officers was held, Capt. Wadsworth of the Kings- 
ton men, impatient of delay, marched his company alone to 
within a few rods of the enemy. His force, however, was 
too small to venture an attack; and while waiting for others 
to come up, the enemy quietly retreated by the back way, 
Balfour leading his troops through Cut River to British ships 
anchored off Brant Rock, by which they were conveyed back 
to Boston." 

"Had the militia arrived three hours earlier, the second 
battle of the Revolution would, without doubt, have been 
fought in Marshfield." 

"The 'Queen's Guards' were called the flower of the Brit- 
ish Army in New England; and it is said that only five of 
the fine fellows, with their Captain, survived the battle of 
Bunker Hill." 

Marshfield, it is said, was a center of Toryism at the out- 
break of the Revolution. It maintained an organization 
called the "Associated Loyalists of Marshfield," in which 
300 persons were enrolled. Nearly every member of the 
old Winslow family, then living here in Marshfield, were 
leading Associated Loyalists, and Dr. Isaac Winslow's 
house (the old Winslow's house now standing) was the 
chief place of meeting. 

There was one Thomas, however, who was not a loyalist 
in the Revolution, but was a patriot worthy of note. This 
was Major Gen. John Thomas, born and reared on the 
ancestral home at Marshfield at or near the old Careswell 
Estate once occupied by Gov. Edward Winslow. He served 
in 1760 as Colonel in the American army at Crown Point. 
He was again called into service in 1775. He was some- 
what indignant because another officer was promoted above 
him, and accordingly Gen. Charles Lee wrote him a letter 



History of MarshHeld. 119 

to take no notice of such a small matter. He was of such 
importance that Gen. George Washington wrote him a long 
letter showing him what a misfortune it would be to the 
army if he should resign, the example would be bad, and 
then reminded him of the excellent service he had already 
given to the country, etc., and in due time he abandoned 
his purpose and accepted the appointment of Lieutenant Gen- 
eral of the army, and was foremost in the action at Dor- 
chester Heights and other places in the early struggle, and 
afterwards was sent to Canada in command of the American 
forces, but the expedition proved disastrous, as history in- 
forms us, and while awaiting for reinforcements, he died 
of small pox in that country, although he had been a physi- 
cian, practicing in Kingston." 



CHAPTER XXX. 

MarsMeld Fathers of the Revolution. 

It appears that in 1774 (the year preceding the Revolu- 
tion), through the influence of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, a 
noted Tory, the town of Marshfield by a majority of only 
one vote passed a resolution, before mentioned, against the 
doings of Boston patriots in throwing the tea overboard in 
the Boston Harbor. Accordingly, not long after this Tory 
act was passed by the town, a company of patriots, prom- 
inent citizens, who might be styled the Marshfield Fathers 
of the Revolution, issued, after signing their names in bold 
relief [as did the signers later to the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence] to the following protest against the town's Tory 
action : 

"We the subscribers think ourselves obliged in faithful- 
ness to the community, ourselves & posterity, on every proper 
occasion to bear our public testimony against every measure 
calculated to destroy that harmony and unanimity which 
subsists through the Colonies & so eventually to the destruc- 
tion of those liberties wherewith the Author of nature & our 
happy Constitution has made us free. Were they not 
already notorious, it would give us uneasiness to mention 
the Resolves which were voted in this town the 31st of Janu- 
ary last. To the first of these resolves we do not object; 
but do heartily join in recognizing our loyalty & subjection 
to the King of Great Britain and our readiness to be ever 
subject to the laws of our Legislature. In their second 
Resolve, they say that the measures and proceedings in the 
town of Boston in the detention & destruction of the teas, 
belonging to the East India Co. are illegal, unjust & of a 

120 



History of MarshHeld. 121 

dangerous tendency, against which we take the liberty to 
protest. 

"We have long groaned under the weight of an American 
Revenue Act, and when by the virtue of the people in not 
purchasing any goods loaded with a duty, the malignity of 
the Act was in some measure evaded, a scheme was devised 
& prosecuted by the Ministry, to enforce said act by permit- 
ting the East India Co. to force their infectious teas upon 
us whether we would or not. At this, not only the inhabi- 
tants of Boston, but of the whole province were very much 
and very justly alarmed and while they were prosecuting 
every method that human wisdom would devise that the tea 
should be sent back undamaged, it was destroyed, but 
whether by the people of that town or any other town of 
the province does not appear " 

"The occasion of this our protest has given us great un- 
easiness & we are confident those extraordinary resolves 
would not have taken place but by the insinuations of a 
certain gentleman who seems willing his constituents should 
share in the resentment of the whole country, which he has 
incurred by his conduct in a public character. We mean 
not to countenance riotous and disorderly conduct, but, be- 
ing convinced that liberty is the life and happiness of a 
community, we are determined to contribute to our last mite 
in its defence against the machinations of assuming, arbi- 
trary men, who, stimulated with a lust of dominion & un- 
righteous gain are ever studying to subjugate this free 
people. 

"Dated Marshfield Feb. 14th, 1774 — 

Signed: Anthony Thomas — Nehemiah Thomas — Paul 
Sampson — John Brown. — Benj. White Jr. — John Oakman 
— Wm. Thomas — Leonard Delano — Joseph Oakman — 
Thomas Foord — Jabez Dingley — King Lapham — Thos. 
Waterman — Isaac Carver — Barnard Jules — Isaac Phil- 
lips — Thos. Dingley — Peleg Kent — Samuel Tilden — Samuel 

Marshfield ix 



122 History of Marshiield. 

Smith — Zenas Thomas — John Dingley — Thos. Waterman 
Jr. — Joshua Carver — Joseph Kent — Peleg Foord — Lot 
Howes Silvester — Benj. White — Asa Waterman — David 
Carver — Jos. Hewitt — John Waterman — Nathnl Thomas — 
Thos Fish — ^John Sherman — Wm Thomas Jr. — Jere. Low 
— Saml Tilden Jr. — Luther Peterson — Benj. Tolman — Sam- 
uel Oakman — Briggs Thomas — Jethro Taylor — Gershom 
Ewell — Elisha Kent — Samuel Williamson — Wm Clift — 
Timothy Williamson — Nathan Thomas — Jos. Bryant — Jos. 
CHft." 

What more stirring and patriotic utterance was given to 
the people than this, proclaimed a year and a quarter before 
the signing and issuing of the Declaration of Independence, 
and promulgated in a town (our town, it must be said, 
with a pang of sorrow), yes, a town which was the hotbed 
of toryism. The fathers of Marshfield, that is, the solid, 
substantial yeomen, had the daring, the strength and the 
courage of their convictions, and were not afraid in those 
heroic times to speak out, and the promulgation of that 
document places these patriots of Marshfield in the front 
rank with the early fathers of the Revolution. 

W. T. Davis, in Plymouth County History, says : "Those 
who had resisted the popular movement were not permitted 
to go unpunished. Nathaniel Ray Thomas, characterized 
in 'McFingal' as that 'Marshfield blunderer,' an educated 
and influential man, and a graduate of Harvard, a man 
living on an estate including 1500 acres (since occupied by 
Daniel Webster), was proscribed and banished, his property 
was confiscated and during the remainder of his life, which 
ended in 1791, he made Nova Scotia his home. Ephraim 
Little, Cornelius White. John Baker, Joseph Tilden, John 
Tilden, Stephen Tilden and Nathaniel Garnet were impris- 
oned in Plymouth Jail for their toryism and released by 
order of Council. October, 1776, on condition they would 
pay the expenses of proceedings against them and remain on 



History of MarshHeld. 123 

their estates except for the purpose of attending worship on 
the Sabbath. 

"EHsha Ford was imprisoned and released on the same 
terms, having at the same time been seized and carted to 
the Liberty Pole and required to sign a statement of alle- 
giance. Caleb Carver, Melzar Carver, Thomas Decrew, 
and Daniel White were proscribed and banished in 1778. 
Paul White also was seized and carted to a Liberty Pole, 
where he was required to sign a recantation." 

"The rolls of soldiers who enlisted during the Revolution 
in Marshfield are probably incomplete, but those in the ar- 
chives of the state, and in possession of the writer (Mr. 
Davis), as they are, contain the following names: 

" 'Members of the Company of Joseph Clift of Marshfield 
who enlisted for six months in 1775 are Joseph Clift — Jona. 
Hatch Sergt — Nathl Rogers — Job Mitchell — Anthony T. 
Hatch Corp. — Saml Tilden — Abner Crocker — Gershom 
Ewell — Jos Hatch — iVsa Lapham — Amos Hatch — Chas 
Hatch — Wm Joyce — Wm Clift — Arumah Rogers — Job 
Ewell — Jesse Lapham — Lot H. Slyvester — Seth Joyce — 
Jona. Joyce — Nathl Joyce — Prince Hatch — Zaccheus Rogers 
— Tobias Oakman — Saml Jones — Caleb Lapham. 

" 'Members of the Company of Capt. Thos Turner in the 
regiment of Col. John Bailey under Gen. Thomas (Marsh- 
field) in 1775 — Briggs Thomas Lieut. — Jona. Hatch Sergt 
— Wm Thomas Corp — Robt Glover — Nathl Rogers — Fran- 
cis Gray — Jona. Low — Tobias White — Ezekiel Sprague — 
Peleg Kent — Thos Chandler — Alex. Garnet — Peleg Foord 
— Nathl Thomas — Brad. Baker — Luther Sampson — Tolman 
Baker — Job Mitchell — Saml Jones — Wm Joyce — Prince 
Hatch — Constant Oakman — John Hatch. 

" 'In other Companies were Abijah Crooker — Capt. King 
Lapham — Lieut. Israel Rogers — ensn, John Bates — Isaac 
Bates — Wills Clift — Chas Kent — Nathl Kent — Asa Rogers 
— Jos Sprague — Andrew Pomp — Asa Lapham — Thos Rog- 



124 History of MarshHeld. 

ers — Abijah Rogers — Anthony Hatch — Benj. Hatch Sergt 
— Asa Rogers Corp., Bernard Tuels — Jona. Low — Peleg 
Foord — Wm. Baker — Eben Cain. 

" 'In 1777 — Ensign Ford — Josh. Turner — ^James Curtis 
— Othaniel Sikes — Eben. Barker — Wm Withington — John 
Chamberlain — Saml Norvett — John Bourne — John Borden 
— Peter Rider — John Randall. 

" 'In 1778 Josiah Harmon — Wm Roper — Ed. ConoUy — 
Thos Ward — John Richas — James Kearns — Anthony Mil- 
ler — Ezra Hathaway — Peter Hathaway — Abijah Hathaway 
— Benj. Cook. 

" 'In 1779 — Isaac Lapham — Asa Lapham — Cornelius 
Bacon. 

" 'In 1780 Asa Soule — Wm Thomas — Luther Sampson — 
Thos Dingley — Jos Warrick — Job Turner — Wm Shurtleff 
— James Fillebrown — John Lincoln — Isaac Simmons — Jos 
Winslow — Allen Rogers — Geo. Osborn Jr — John Doten — 
Isaac Horton — Peter Booth — John McCarter.' " 

In Marshfield. March 21st, 1773, it is written: "In the 
night, the inhabitants there v/ere waked with a very loud 
noise and considerable jar of the houses, which they took 
to be an earthquake; but it is since conjectured that it was 
occasioned by the severe frost as it was heard several times, 
sometimes louder than at others, by many, who rose imme- 
diately. The ground is cracked in many places several 
yards in length so wide that a man may put his whole arm 
into the chasms." 



CHAPTER XXXI. • ' " 

Town Record Selections. 

"Mch, 2^ — 1778 — At a town meeting 'the question' was 
put to know the town's mind whether they are willing that 
part of Scituate called the 'T7V0 Mile' should be annexed to 
the town of Marshfield on certain conditions to be complied 
with and it passed in the affirmative." 

1778. 

"Articles of Confederation were read and after consider- 
ing thereon the question was put to know the town's mind 
whether they will instruct their representative to act and do 
as he shall think most for the advantage of this and the other 
United States relative to Articles of Confederation and per- 
petual Union between them, the votes passed in the Affirma- 
tive." 

1779. 

"The question was put to know the mind of the town 
whether that when more soldiers shall be called for, that 
they shall be raised by the town and not by separate 
Parishes or Companies, & it passed in the affirmative." 

"At said meeting the question was put to know the town's 
mind whether they are willing that part of Scituate called 
Two Mile should be annexed to the town of Marshfield on 
the condition that they, the petitioners, will find themselves 
a way or road or roads from their highway to Marshfield 
line, & also that they build themselves a schc ol-house, if one 
is wanting, without any cost to the town of Marshfield, 
which conditions, we the petitioners, oblige ourselves, our 
heirs & assigns to perform, & it passed in the affirmative. 
51 votes for it & 33 against it." 

"At a town meeting held at the South meeting house in 

125 



126 History of MarsMeld. 

Marshfield, July 12th, the question was put to know the 
town's mind whether they will choose a man to go to Con- 
cord, and the vote passed in the affirmative unanimous. And 
then they proceeded & made choice of Capt. Thomas Water- 
man as a delegate to join and co-operate with a convention of 
delegates from the several committee of correspondence, &c. 
in this state, to meet at Concord on Wednesday, the 14th of 
July, inst., for the purpose of forming such arrangements 
and adopting such measures as shall be necessary to carry 
into effect by common consent the object before us." 

1779. 

"Prices to regulate Inholders, teaming, manufacturers 
and other Articles in proportion to the rates of the neces- 
saries of Life, as stated in the first resolve of the said con- 
vention. 

"N. E. Rum in continental money, $3.33 1-3 pr. quart 
and $1.66 2-3 pr. mug. A Dinner, $1.66 2-3 — Supper or 
Breakfast, $1.33 1-3 — Highest price day's labor, $8.33. 
Sheep's wool, $4.50 — Salt hay at landing, $66.66 pr. ton — 
Oak wood at landing, $22.00 pr. cord." 

"A committee of inspection was appointed to look out 
for any offenders who disregard these rules & prices, and 
publish their names that the public may abstain from all 
trade and conversation with them." 

1780. 

"The assessors were ordered to make an assessment on 
the inhabitants of this town to raise the sum of £648 or 
$2,160, to pay the soldiers in hard money, encluding the 
two miles "cota" (quota) which is one man and three 
quarters." 

1780 — June 19. 

"The question was put to know the town's mind whether 
they will allow each soldier that shall enlist & past muster 
for one of the eighteen men sent for from this town to join 
the Continental Army for the term of six months, the sum 



History of Marshiield. i2y 

of twenty dollars per month, including the forty shillings 
per month allowed by the state in hard money, and that the 
money be reduced to a bushel of Indian corn at six shillings 
per bushel & rye at nine shillings per bushel as to the town's 
part, and it shall be at their option to take either the corn 
& grain or hard money." 

"And they proceeded and chose Messrs. Thos Ford — 
Nathl Ford — Asa Waterman — Lemuel Little — Dea. John 
Tilden and John White as a committee to assist Capt. Clift 
and Capt. Dingley in procuring said i8 men, &c." 

"A vote was also passed that a committee of forty be 
chosen to procure one soldier each at as reasonable rate as 
he can, & bring in the bill to the town and procure corn and 
other articles which they promised said soldiers in behalf 
and cost of town," 

1780. 

"It was ordered that the Selectmen be desired and directed 
to hire the money or procure the beef at six pence per pound 
in the new emission, the eight thousand weight of which 
is the town's "Cota" for the Continental Army, or ordered 
by a resolve of the General Court, and that they be allowed 
4 shillings per day in the old way for their time spent in that 
service." 

1781. 

"Voted to procure 15 more soldiers, the town's quota for 
the army, and for this town's quota of beef for 
the Continental Army, the sum of ten thousand pounds, 
£10000 (continental money) also voted to procure 3 soldiers 
to go to Rhode Island. Also agreed that those persons that 
will turn in beef for the Continental Soldiers shall be al- 
lowed 4^ per lb. for what goes to pay the town tax, and 
six pence for what goes to pay their Commonwealth tax, 
and what remains due them after 25th, December next, to 
be allowed 4 pence pr. lb. and interest till paid. Voted 
the town be taxed for 6192 pounds of beef." 



128 History of MarshHeld. 

1785- 

"At town meeting held in South meeting house, ordered 
that a bridge be built across the North River between Dea. 
Saml Tilden's in Marshfield, and Mr. Saml Curtis, Inn 
holder in Scituate, if the aforesaid bridge is built without 
cost to this town. At said meeting Dea Saml Tilden and 
Thos Rogers, the 3rd, were chosen committee to petition the 
General Court for liberty to build the above said bridge by 
lottery or subscription." 

1786. 

"At town meeting the question was put to know the town's 
mind whether they are willing to have that part of Scituate 
called 'Two Mile' annexed to the town of Marshfield, on the 
conditions that were formerly proposed, & it passed in the 
affirmative." 

1787 — Dec. 17. 

"The town made choice of the Rev. Mr. Wm. Shaw to 
represent them in the convention of delegates from the sev- 
eral towns in this Commonwealth who are by the recom- 
mendation of the legislature to meet at the State House in 
Boston on Wednesday, the 9th of January next, for to give 
their assent to & ratify the constitution, or frame of govern- 
ment, proposed to the United States by the late convention, 
who meet at Philadelphia for that purpose." 
"A meeting to elect Representative to Congress and Elec- 
tors for President & Vice President in Marshfield." 

"At a legal town meeting held at the South meeting 
house, Dec. 18th, 1788, in Marshfield. The votes were 
brought in, sorted, & counted in presence of the Selectmen 
for a Representative for this district in the Congress of the 
United States, which were as follows, viz : For the Hon. 
Nathan Gushing, Esq., 12 votes, unanimous. At same 
time the votes were brought in for two persons as candi- 
dates for Electors of President & Vice President of the 
United States, which were as follows : For the Hon. Danl 



History of Marshficld. 129 

Howard, Esq., 12 votes, and for the Hon. Solomon Free- 
man, Esq., 12 votes. 

Apr. 5, 1789. 

"For the purpose of choosing Governor, Lieut. Governor 
and Senators for the present year. The votes were 
brought in, and sorted and counted in presence of the Se- 
lectmen, which were as follows, viz : 

For Governor, His Excellency, John Hancock, had 25 votes. 
For Governor, Hon. James Bowdoin had 18 votes. 
For Lieut. Governor, Geo. Walton, Esq., had 18 votes. 
For Lieut. Governor, Hon. Samuel Adams, Esq., had 7 

votes. 
For Lieut. Governor, Nathl Gorham, Esq., had 7 votes. 
For Lieut. Governor, Mr. David Cook had 2 votes. 
For Senators, Hon. Danl Howard had 28 votes. 
For Senators, Thos, Davis had 32 votes. 
For Senators, Capt. Jos. Bryant had 30 votes. 
For Senators, Ephraim Spooner had 5 votes. 
For Senators, John Thomas had i vote." 

1791. 

"The town made choice of Jedediah Little to serve as 
collector for the present year, and to give said Little ii<^ 
on the £ for his services on all taxes he collects." 

1792. 

"Selectmen were directed to provide a house for any that 
shall be taken with the small pox & see that they be re- 
moved to it, a committee w^as chosen to assist the Selectmen 
with regard to the small pox." 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Ship building in Marshiield on the North River. 

Ship building in Marshfield, on the river, has been in past 
years quite an important industry. A stranger looking at 
the river now, can hardly believe that it was the scene of so 
much activity a half century and a century ago, in fact, the 
citizen of Marshfield to-day, unless he has passed a half 
a century, can hardly realize the change that has taken 
place. My authority in these records of the ship building 
in our town, is culled from 'Briggs' excellent history of Ship 
Building on the North River." 

"There were many vessels built on the North River about 
the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. There were 
between twenty and thirty vessels built on this river an- 
nually." 

"At the 'Brick Kiln' ship yard in Marshfield, was built 
the ship 'Beaver' by Ichabod Thomas. It was one of the 
tea ships of Boston harbor, from which the tea was thrown 
overboard by the famous Tea Party in 1773." 



130 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Captains Sailing on North River. 

Briggs says, "Tobias Oakman, of Oakman's Ferry, 
was master of a packet sloop many years ago, 
sailing from North River Bridge, in Hanover, to 
Boston, for over 40 years. Capt. David Church 
was his successor. Capt. Church was well known 
in history, and was called by the old settlers a sub- 
stantial man. He had many peculiarities, one of which 
was his manner of dress. With the exception of his boots 
and shoes, every garment he wore was made in his own 
house of wool from his flock of sheep, or flax from his field. 
He wore everything its natural color, and his trousers were 
always tucked into his stockings. It is said he was never 
known to wear a dyed garment. The shipbuilders had so 
much confidence in him that he made nearly all their pur- 
chases. At one time he went into a Boston store, where he 
had not before traded, to purchase five tons of iron, and 
while making his inquiries, he noticed that they regarded 
him with some suspicion. 'Foggs,' said Capt. Church, 'you 
look at me as if you had some doubts about me, I want you 
to understand that I do not come out of North River with- 
out five or six thousand dollars about me.' He then took 
a package of several thousand dollars from his pocket. The 
firm replied, 'we are pleased to make your acquaintance, and 
shall be happy to attend to all your requests.' " 

"Timothy Williamson used to run a packet sloop between 
Boston and North River. He was a great gunner, and be- 
ing usually the only man on board his small craft, he would 
begin firing his flint lock some time before reaching the 
draw bridge in order to have it opened for him. Those liv- 

131 



132 History of MarshHeld. 

ing in the region of Little's bridge remember hearing the 
bang! bang! bang! and they always knew it was Tim Wil- 
liamson coming up the river. He was a high-tempered 
fellow, and a smart workman, and used to pilot vessels out 
of the river from the yards above. He once had a terrible 
fight with a shark, near Little's bridge, which he finally 
killed. He ran his sloop from about 1840 to 1846, and 
finally accidentally shot himself, being injured for life. 

Until 1820, or later, every male citizen was obliged 
to keep a gun and 24 rounds of ammunition. Inspection 
was the first Tuesday in May, and if the gun lacked good 
order, was not properly oiled, or the flint was not right, a 
fine was imposed." 

The author remembers well when Capt. Asa Sherman 
(who was living in 1900 in the Ferry district) ran the 
sloop from North River to Boston, nearly half a century ago. 
My partner, the late Clift Rodgers, then doing business in 
Boston under the firm of Rodgers, Richards & Co., was the 
largest owner of the Packet, and Capt. Sherman used to 
come into our office and report progress in the running of 
the Packet, passing to Mr. Rodgers his accounts to be ex- 
amined at his leisure. He seemed an old man then, bent 
over by hard work, but young, comparatively, to the century 
he nearly reached in 1900. In his tearly days he ran his 
packet to collect freight up the North River as far as North 
River bridge in Hanover. His stopping places on the way 
were at "the Brick Kiln"— "Job's Landing"— "Foster's 
Landing" — "Briggs' Landing" — "Union Bridge" — Little's 
Bridge" and "White's Ferry." 

I also remember Capt. Chas L. Tilden, now living at an 
advanced age, running a packet from North River to Bos- 
ton. He, also, ran up the River, and had eight landing 
places at different points thereon, but after the railroad was 
built, the packet business, and all commercial navigation on 
the river began to decline, and not for a quarter of a century 



History of Marshiield. 133 

has any packet, or any other vessel of commerce, run regu- 
larly up and down the river. Nothing but small pleasure 
yachts are now seen on the river, and very few of them. 
When the railroad was built they failed to put in a good, 
rapid moveable draw on the bridge, and hence navigation 
from that and other causes has practically ceased on the 
river. A dozen years ago there was a movement made by 
some of the towns bordering on the river, for a hearing be- 
fore the Harbor Commissioners to induce, or force the Old 
Colony Railroad Co. to build a draw, and the author of this 
history was engaged, by interested parties in Marshfield, to 
attend the hearing, in company with delegates from other 
towns. A good argument was presented, but the all power- 
ful railroad magnates carried the day, and the thing called, 
by courtesy, a draw, which requires a day or two to move and 
put back again in its place, still exists, to the detriment of 
navigation on this river. Our large forests, it is claimed, 
can be put on the market, especially the Boston market, in 
the form of cord wood, with much reduced rates of freight 
on the river than by the present mode of transit on the N. 
Y., N. H. & H. railroad. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Ship Yards at Gravelly Beach and Little's Bridge. 

From "Briggs' Ship Building History," I find there were 
two ship yards in Marshfield, one at Gravelly Beach, North 
Marshfield, near wfiere the late Benj. White lived, and the 
other in close proximity to Little's Bridge in Marshfield, 
and these were known as the Roger's yards. 

"Peleg — Luther and possibly Nathaniel, Jr., and Thomas 
Rogers, Jr., built at the latter yard, and nearly all of the fol- 
lowing buil't at Gravelly Beach yard : Israel — Amos — 
Joseph — Asa — Asa, Jr. — Samuel and Thomas Rogers 
and all worked at various periods in nearly every 
yard on the river. The Rogerses were skilled carpenters, and 
if any one wanted a ship built on honor, a Rogers was his 
man. There is a tradition in the family, that John Rogers 
was related to John Rogers, the martyr, [in England, 
who, history says, had nine children and one at the breast, 
and the question is an open one to this day, how many chil- 
dren had he?] but this tradition needs verification before 
being accepted as correct. Timothy Rogers was among the 
first of that name we find in Marshfield. He was born in 
1698, and married Lydia, daughter of Israel Hatch, of 'Two 
Mile.' They had eleven children." 

"Marshfield has the name of having many fires, woods 
and houses both. There used to be a young man who came 
down to one of the yards to see the ship carpenters, and who 
was not called very bright. One day he was telling about 
a great fire in Marshfield woods, when he said what grieved 
him most was to see the poor little rabbits running out of the 
woods with their tails burned ofif." 

Luther Rogers, father of the late Clift Rogers, built, or 

134 



History of Marshfteld. 135 

hired built, several vessels on his farm, at what is known as 
Roger's Corners at Marshfield Hills, formerly East Marsh- 
field. The spot where they were built, especially the 
Abigail (named after his wife) was upon what is now the 
author's lawn, near the drive way, on top of Richard's Hill. 
I have heard my late father-in-law say (a son of the above 
Luther) that when the vessel was completed, a hundred yoke 
of oxen were engaged to draw the sloop across the fields in 
a bee line for the river to Little's Bridge, and after the task 
was done the vessel was launched in the river. It is claimed 
that he had his vessels built on his farm, a mile away from 
the water, rather than down on the shore by the river, be- 
cause it was more convenient for the workmen, and then he 
could watch its construction at better advantage than a mile 
away, although, according to tradition, as I have heard 
it from the living, his voice was so strong he could be 
heard a mile, his weight being about 300. He had a store 
at the "Corners," adjoining his house, and being strong and 
powerful himself, he expected from others more than they 
could stand. One day he wanted his hired man to shoulder 
a barrel of flour and carry it up stairs to the loft, and seeing 
after a trial or two that his man did not succeed, he said to 
him, "Seems to me you are making a good deal of fuss over 
that, let me take it," and he soon shouldered it and marched 
up stairs. His man, espying a bag of salt lying at the 
foot, weighing from 50 to 100 pounds, tossed it on top of 
the barrel to test his strength, and when he arrived at the 
loft, and the freight emptied, espying the bag of salt, he 
said he thought the barrel was a little heavier than common. 
To get a supply of goods for his store he would ride to 
Boston in a tip cart, with no blanket over his limbs in the 
dead of winter, to protect them. He lived to a good age, 
and left a substantial property to his children. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Brooks & Tilden Ship Yard and other Yards. 

Briggs' work says, "The Brooks & Tilden yard was lo- 
cated about 40 rods above Union Bridge on the Marshfield 
bank of the North River, and on land formerly owned by 
Hatch Tilden, adjoining the highway which runs over the 
bridge. The William Taylor yard was also located on the 
Marshfield side of North River, a few rods below Little's 
Bridge, on land then owned by Edward P. Little, and now 
owned by Mr. Stoddard. The following are records of 
some of the vessels built between 1784 and 1809." 

"In 1784, the sloop 'Abigail,' 50 tons, of Marshfield, was 
built. Jacob Bearstow of this town owned her. Also in 
17S4 the Brig't'n Williams, 135 tons, was built in Marsh- 
field, and afterward foundered at sea. The same year, 
1784, the schooner Polly, 52 tons, was built, Joseph, Mary 
and Mercy Phillips, owners. Afterwards sold to Barn- 
stable. There was built in Marshfield in 1786 the sloop 
'Sally,' 44 tons, of Marshfield, Benjamin Hatch of Marsh- 
field and Charles Hatch of Pembroke, owners. The same 
year the sloop ']nn6' , 90 tons, of Marshfield, Elisha Ford 
and Jona. Ford of Marshfield, owners. In 1792 there was 
built in Marshfield the brig 'Debby', 107 tons, of Boston, 
and the next year two vessels, the schooner, afterwards 
Brig't'n, 'Helen', 100 tons, of Boston, and the sloop 'North 
River', 27 tons, owned by Charles and Benjamin Hatch, of 
Marshfield, and Seth Hatch, of Pembroke. Scollay Baker 
tegan building a square sterned schooner in Marshfield in 
1800, named 'Polly', 114 tons. Prince Hatch built in 1801 
the schooner 'Three Friends,' 74 tons, of Barnstable. Elisha 
Ford, Jr.. built in Marshfield, 1802, the brig 'Eliza', 165 

136 



History of Marshfidd. 137 

tons, of Marshfield, owned by Elisha Ford, Sr. and Jr. of 
Marshfield. In 1809 Aaron Sherman built in Marshfield 
the sloop 'Polly', 35 tons, owned by Benj. Rogers and Ellen 
Sherman of Marshfield. Aaron Sherman lived near the 
South Baptist meeting house, Marshfield, vulgarly called 
the *01d Skunk.' While vessels were building on this 
beautiful river shore, other vessels were being destroyed on 
her rocky coast, driven before the easterly gales, and many 
are the sailors who have found their graves in the sands 
of this town. In Brooks & Tilden yard, Elijah Brooks and 
Geo. Tilden built here in the thirties of the 19th century for 
about ten years. Here the schooner 'Huron, 106 tons, was 
built, and in the same year the brig, 'Lewis Bruce', 113 tons. 
In 1838 they built the schooner 'Eric', 113 tons, also built 
the brig 'Michigan' and schooner 'Roanoke.' In 1840 they 
built the brig, 'Joseph Balch', 153 tons; in 1843, Mt. Brooks 
built the brig, 'Alden King', 206 tons. This was probably 
the last vessel built at this yard. The Wm. Taylor vard, 
before mentioned, located near Little's Bridge, on land now 
owned by Mr. Stoddard, was occupied in 1848 by Wm. Tay- 
lor and Israel Carver, and then known as the Taylor & Car- 
ver yard. In 1848 the schooner, 'Lake', 74 tons, was built, 
6y feet long, break deck. In 1850 was built the schooner 
'Horn'. The 'Souther' was built here by Israel Carver 
about i860. Taylor and Carver built a schooner of about 
70 tons, probably the 'Edie Little', named after Edw. P. 
Little's wife. Mr. Taylor, it was said, was a very humor- 
ous man, and loved to tell his boyish pranks. For some 
fancied or real slight, by a bevy of girls, in his younger days, 
he induced them to ride in a tip-cart, which he was drivng, 
and comng to quite a deep, swift running brook, he with- 
drew the fastenings and dumped them all into the water, 
from which they emerged more wet than hurt." 

"On this same river, where so many vessels have been 
built, the first American vessel that ever circumnavigated 

Marshfield x 



138 History of Marshfield. 

the globe, was built by James Briggs at Hobart's Landing 
in 1773, on the other side of the river in Scituate. This 
was the ship 'Columbia', 220 tons, which also explored the 
great river in Oregon, named after this vessel, Columbia 
river. She was the first vessel from this country to visit 
the Northwest coast. The White's Ferry yards in Marsh- 
field were quite extensive. Vessels were built at 
these yards at different times from 1705 to 1840. The 
Keenes and the Halls built at these yards for many years, 
but they were probably occupied nearly a hundred years prior 
to their time. As early as 1705, 'Mary and Abigail' was 
built there, capacity 40 tons, and in 171 1 a ship, and in 171 3 
a sloop were built there. The builders at this yard were 
Simeon Keene, Simeon Keene, Jr., Benj. Keene — Isaac 
Keene— Luke Hall— Wm. Hall and Saml Hall. The Halls 
began in 1825, and by them alone there were built here thirty 
vessels, between 1825 and 1840." 

These added to the other vessels built in Marshfield ship 
yards, shows emphatically what a prominent part Marsh- 
field took in ship building on the North River in the first 
six decades of the last century. 

The following incidents Briggs tells in his book : "Last 
Tuesday a whale about 40 feet long was discovered by a 
small fishing schooner, off Marshfield, which was being at- 
tacked by three sharks, one of whom the fisherman killed. 
It measured 16 feet long, and upon opening it they took out 
of its paunch many pieces of the whale, as would make a bar- 
rel of oil, and it was thought the liver of the shark would 
make two or three barrels more. The whale was so 

wounded and worried by the sharks that it became an easy 
prize for the fisherman, who carried it into Marshfield," 

"In Marshfield, in 1760, died Mr. Wm. Carver, aged 102 
years, who retained his reason to the last. He was a 
nephew to Gov. Carver of the Plymouth Colony, and has 
left behind him the fifth generation of male issue in all, chil- 



History of MarshUeld. 139 

dren, grand children, great grand-children and great, great 
grand children, ninety-six." 

Many families in Marshfield, bearing the name of Carver, 
at present, in 1901, are descendants of the brother of Gov. 
Carver, as stated above, and not of the first governor of the 
Colony as commonly supposed, he leaving no children. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 
Ferries in MarshHeld. 

"In 1638," says Briggs, "a ferry was established at North 
River by Jona. Brewster of Duxbury. This ferry was a 
place called New Harbor Marsh, and it is now called 
'White's Ferry.' Jona. Brewster was the first ferryman. 
In 1 64 1 Mr. Brewster sold his ferry privilege to Messrs. 
Barker, Howell & Co., for £60. In 1645 it was kept by 
Ralph Chapman, who in 1656 implored the Court to excuse 
him, as it would bring him to extreme poverty, etc. He 
was excused except on special occasions, as bringing the 
magistrates over who dwell there." 

There was shipbuilding going on at this place in early 
days, and a wharf for the landing of goods, a part of which 
is seen at the present day. A long bridge near this wharf 
and the old ferry w^as built about a couple of decades ago for 
the purpose of accommodating the proprietors of Hotel 
Humarock and other householders on the Humarock beach 
on the opposite side of the river. The County Commis- 
sioners, at the time of writing this history, have required 
the towns of Scituate and Marshfield to support the bridge, 
Scituate keeping their side up to the channel of the river, 
about two thirds across, in good repair, and Marshfield their 
side up to the channel. 

Briggs, in his book, says: "At Union Bridge (between 
Norwell and Marshfield) there was a public ferry boat as 
early as 1644. Union Bridge was built soon after 1801 
as a toll bridge. Hatch Tilden was toll collector for more 
than forty years. He lived in the house near the bridge 
on 'the easterly side of the road in Marshfield. It was 
made a free bridge in 1850." 

140 



History of Marshfield. 141 

"At Little's bridge, between Scituate and Marshfield, 
there was a ferry as early as 1637, which year 200 acres of 
land were granted to Mr. William Vassall, on condition 'he 
keepe a ferry against his farm, toll id for a man & 4d for a 
beast.' This was then called 'New Harbor Ferry.' The 
ferry was located in front of his residence, which was on 
'Belle House Neck,' Scituate. In 1730 this ferry was kept 
by Thomas Doggett, the first of that name, who married 
Joanne, widow of Thomas Chillingworth, of Marshfield. 
After Captain Doggett took the ferry, it was called 'Dog- 
gett's Ferry.' In 1755 Captain Doggett's son. Captain 
John, Jr., then only fifteen years of age, kept the ferry. 

"Thomas Doggett, the first, bought a farm in 1659, where 
he lived until his death in 1692. This farm was a portion 
of the upland overlooking the mouth of the North River 
and an extensive view of the ocean beyond. It was the 
first farm on the Marshfield side of the river, with one of 
the dividing lines starting opposite the point where the 
North and South Rivers enter the sea." 

"Among the descendants of Thomas Doggett were many 
who were mariners. Samuel Doggett, a grandson of 
Thomas, was the first of the family called 'Mariner,' and 
he began sailing from North River about the year 1700. 
His homestead was a piece of upland containing thirty acres 
of land, together with five acres of marsh, now called 'Bry- 
ant's pasture,' which is located near where the railroad 
bridge crosses the river, and was bounded on one side by 
the river; 'beginning at the mouth of ye great creek by ye 
North River.' Samuel Doggett was town treasurer of 
Marshfield for several years, and prominent in the shipping 
interests of the river from which he sailed. He was inter- 
ested in the settlement of Maine, and combined with Boston 
capitalists, he used his vessels to carry families there to 
settle. Many of these were Marshfield people, who doubt- 
less sailed for their new home from North River. The 



142 History of MarshHeld. 

growth of Boston and Mr. Doggett's increasing interests 
there led him to leave Marshfield in 1 744 and make his home 
there, where he soon afterward died." 

"A toll bridge was erected at Doggett's Ferry in 1825 and 
called 'Little's Bridge,' from a family of that name who 
lived near, on the Marshfield side." The author remem- 
bers, when a young man, living in his native town of 
Quincy, Mass., of driving to Marshfield occasionally, and 
being obliged to stop and draw his wallet to pay toll at a 
house close to the bridge on the Marshfield side, now, in 
1900, owned by the town and let as a residence. 

During his drive from Quincy to Marshfield, he was 
stopped on turnpikes and bridges for toll two or three times, 
which was certainly a great nuisance, and the law passed by 
the state freeing all bridges and turnpikes was certainly a 
righteous act. Not only was toll collected on crossing a 
bridge, but for passage over a road, oftentimes the main 
thoroughfare through a town, if it happened to be built by 
a company of individuals. It was called a "turnpike," and 
towards supporting it, including the payment of a good 
interest on the capital invested in the turnpike, a toll was 
laid and collected on every carriage or team passing thereon. 
Little's Bridge was made free March 20th, 1865. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

Town Record Selections. 

1794- 

*'Benj. Simmons was excused from serving as Tilhing- 
man the present year. Voted to choose Jabez Dingley to 
serve Tithingman the present year." 

"Ordered George Little for to keep Winsor, a negro man 
of this instant May : the said Geo. Little is to keep the town 
clear of all expense in sickness and health except doctor's 
bill & clothes for said Winsor, also the Selectmen are to 
bind the Said Winsor for one year to the above said Geo. 
Little if he lives, or in the same proportion if he the said 
Winsor dies." 

War of 1812 with Great Britain. 

"Voted to give every Soldier £6 per month encluding the 
Continental pay, that is drafted or enlist in said service, the 
town to have the priveledge to get men in their room." 

"Voted that the Selectmen be directed to procure a man, 
in any man's room that enlists or is drafted, that is n't will- 
ing to go in said service if called for." 

1814. 

"In the South Meeting House a town meeting was held 
agreeable to a petition of Capt. Bourne Thomas and others 
wishing to know the minds of the town whether they will 
adopt any measures for the defence of the people and pro- 
perty of said Town against an invading enemy or do or act 
any way relative to the subject they in their wisdom may 
think proper. Capt. John Thomas was chosen moderator. 
Ordered that the Selectmen petition his excellency the Gov- 
ernor for a chest of small arms & two field pieces with pow- 
der, balls &c. immediately. Ordered that the Commis- 

143 



144 History of MarshHeld. 

sioned officers of each Company supply the soldiers under 
their command with 20 pair catridges each, they being re- 
sponsible for the same & that they procure suitable paper at 
the expense of the town and bring in their account for that 
& their trouble." 

1815. 

"Gave the soldiers who w^ere drafted to serve in the war 
from Marshfield two dollars in addition to their state's pay 
per month." 

"Arannah Ford was allowed three cents on the dollar for 
collecting the State, County, & town taxes the ensuing year, 
he procuring bondsmen." 

1817. 

Form of Town Warrant for Election. 

Property Qualification for Voting. 

"To either of the Constables of the Town of Marshfield 
Greeting: You are hereby required in the name of the 
Commonwealth of Mass. to notify and warn the inhabitants 
of the said Town of Marshfield duly qualified to vote for 
Representative in the General Court of said Commonwealth 
viz : the male inhabitants of said town being twenty one 
years of age & resident in said town for the space of one 
year next proceeding, having a freehold estate within said 
town of the annual income of three pounds or any estate to 
the value of 60 pounds to assemble at the South meeting 
house in said town on Monday the 27th day of Jan. instant 
at one O'clock P. M. to give in their votes for a representa- 
tive of the people of said Commonwealth, in the Congress 
of the United States for the Plymouth district." 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

Public Schools in MarshUeld. 

The Old South School, located at South Marshfield and 
established in 1645, was among the earliest public schools 
in New England. An account of this school was given in 
an historical address by Mrs. Sarah E. Bosworth, of Pem- 
broke, Mass. (formerly a pupil of the school in later days), 
before the reunion of the Old South School in Marshfield, 
Sept. loth, 1 89 1, and from which sketch I make the follow- 
ing quotations : 

'Two years after Green Harbor became a township, and 
but one after it was first called Marshfield, we find the first 
recorded act in regard to town education, passed June 14, 
1642, and in August, 1645, Marshfield made the first move- 
ment toward a public school in the Plymouth Colony by 
twelve of her principal men, including Edward Winslow 
and others, pledging themselves not only to pay for their 
own children's schooling, but a certain sum towards others. 
This act passed in 1642, was revised in stronger language 
in 1658, and printed in the General Laws of the Colony in 
1660, and is as follows: 

'' 'Forasmuch as the good Education of children is of 
Singular behoofe and benefit to any Commonwealth, and 
whereas many Parents and Masters are too indulgent and 
negligent of their duty in that kind;' Tt is ordered that ye 
chosen men appointed for managing the prudential affairs 
in the several precints and quarters where they dwell, shall 
have a vigilant eye over their neighbors, to see First, That 
none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of the 
families, as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, 
their Children and apprentices so much learning as shall 

145 



146 History of MarsMeld. 

enable them to read perfectly the English tongue and Knowl- 
edge of the Capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings 
for each neglect therein.' 

"Under date of 1663 I find this: 'It is proposed by the 
Court unto the several townships of this jurisdiction as a 
thing they ought to take into Serious Consideration that 
some course may bee taken that in every towne there may 
bee a schoolmaster sett up to traine children to reading and 
writing.' But 'ye chosen men' did not seem to take it into 
consideration as I can find; so again, in a court held March 
4, 1670, the subject of schools was agitated, and a grant 
was made of 'all such profitts as might or should annually 
accrew or grow dew to this Colony from time to time from 
fishing with nets or saines att Cape Cod for Mackerell, 
basse, or herrings, to be imployed and improved for and 
toward a free school in some town in this jurisdiction for the 
training up of youth in littrature for the good & benefit of 
pesteritie, provided a beginning was made within one year.' 
And the 'ordering of said affair was to be the charge of the 
Governor and Assistants, or any four of them.' And said 
free school was established in Plymouth, and Mr. Thomas 
Hinckley was appointed 'Steward of the said schoole.' " 

"But there does not appear to have been any action in 
regard to the act of 1663, that a school master should be 
'set up' in every town. But at a court held at Plymouth 
Nov. I, 1667, there was an 'order passed,' closely resembling 
one of 1663, resulting in establishing a free school in most 
of the towns of the Colony and sharing with Plymouth the 
profits of the 'Cape Cod fisheries.' In 1701 it is recorded 
that 'the laws of learning which are wholesome and neces- 
sary are shamefully neglected by Divers Towns, and the 
penalty thereof not required tending greatly to the Nourish- 
ment of Ignorance and Irreligion. The Penalty thereof 
shall henceforth be twenty pounds per annum.' 

"And this new provision was added, 'That evry school 



History of MarshHeld. 147 

master be approved by the Ministers of the two next adja- 
cent towns, or any two of them by certificate under their 
hands.' And the 'justices of the peace in each county are 
directed to take Care that the laws respecting schools and 
school masters be duly observed and put in execution/ 
But in 1718 the penalty for non-observance of the laws was 
increased to 'thirty pounds on every town that shall have 
the number of 150 families and forty pounds on every town 
that shall have 200 families and so prorato.' 

"You see these men were in earnest to all that concerned 
Tosteritie,' even though they were willing to be only step- 
ping stones. In 1789 an act was passed which divided the 
towns into school districts because of the 'dispersed situation 
of the inhabitants of the several towns in this Common- 
wealth the children and youth cannot be collected in any 
one place for their instruction, it has become expedient that 
the towns be divided into separate districts for the purpose 
aforesaid.' And it 'shall be the duty of the ministers of 
the gospel and the selectmen or such other persons as shall 
be especially chosen by each town or district for that pur- 
pose to use their influence and best endeavor that the youth 
of their respective towns do regularly attend the schools 
and once in six months at least, and as much oftener as they 
shall determine it necessary to visit and inspect the several 
schools in their respective towns and districts, and shall in- 
quire into the regulation and discipline thereof, and the 
proficiency of the scholars therein, giving reasonable notice 
of their visitation.' 

"It was in Section 9 of this act that mention is first 
made of the school mistress : 'That no person shall be al- 
lowed to be a master or mistress of such school, or to keep 
the same unless he or she shall obtain a certificate from the 
Selectmen of such town or district where the same may be 
kept or the committee appointed by such town to visit their 
schools as well as from a learned minister settled therein 



148 History of MarshHeld. 

that he or she is a person of sober Hfe and conversation and 
well qualified to keep such school. Penalty forty shillings.' 

"But there had been 'school dames' before this to instruct 
the children during the summer in reading, sewing and 
knitting. In 1800, Feb. 28, an act was passed 'That the 
Selectmen were authorized to issue warrants for district 
meetings; the voters authorized to choose a clerk, raise 
money for the erection and repairs of school-houses,' etc. 
In 181 7 school districts were made corporations in name, 
and empowered 'to hold in fee simple or otherwise real and 
personal estate for the use of schools.' And in 1827 dis- 
tricts were first authorized to 'choose school agents,' to 
whom were confided the care of the houses and the impor- 
tant trust of selecting and hiring teachers. 

"But previous, on March 4, 1826, an act was approved 
'That each town in this Commonwealth shall at its annual 
March or April Meeting choose a Committee of not less than 
five persons, who shall have the general charge and super- 
vision of all the schools in town.' And that year Marsh- 
field chose her first school board, consisting of Martin Par- 
ris, Azel Ames, Elijah Leonard, Charles Macomber and 
Thomas Conant. 

"The schoolhouse where our grandfathers went to school 
was on the 'Common,' near the site of Dr. Paine's tomb. 
And surely 't was a rustic school room. From the door 
of that house they watched one September day in 1774 
'substantial yeomanry' of Pembroke, Scituate, Hanover and 
Marshfield march by on their way to rout, and punish a 
public ofificer who had not proved faithful to the 'welfare 
of the Commonwealth and Posteretie.' But in December, 
1774, they watched a more terrible sight, when Gen. Balfour, 
followed by his fine company of Queen's Guards, marched 
by, their bayonets glistening in the winter's sunshine, to 
take up quarters in their town 'to protect every faithful sub- 
ject to his King so that he dare utter his thoughts, fully 



History of MarshHeld. 149 

drink his tea and kill his sheep as profusely as he pleased/ 
They saw the blackened rock, where the tea was fired by 
that dead, earnest old Whig, whom they always looked upon 
with veneration; they saw that other gathering of staunch 
yeomanry early in 1775, armed not with glistening bayo- 
nets, but scythes, forks, anything they could get, and who 
were deadly in earnest, and 'would fight to the death every 
mother's son of them,' march down from Col. Anthony 
Thomas' to this site, where they saw the going of Gen. 
Balfour and his troops, to embark upon vessels lying off 
Brant Rock. 

"That 'staunch yeomanry' doubtless saved the soil of 
Marshfield from being reddened with the blood of the sec- 
ond revolution. They witnessed Capt. Thomas go to the 
top of Ward or 'Pudding' Hill and fire the three signal 
alarm guns, while young Charles Thomas beat the drum 
to let the surrounding inhabitants know that hostilities had 
commenced the morning after the battle of Lexington. 
They heard the creak of the oxcart at midnight which re- 
moved the town's powder from yonder bedroom and the 
women and children to places of greater safety, when armed 
British vessels lay in the bay. . . . But in such bar- 
ren schoolhouses were trained the men who carried through 
the Revolutionary period, a miracle second only to the mul- 
titude being fed in the wilderness; they held with a firm and 
bloody grasp the rights of freeman to transmit to 'posteri- 
tie.' " 

In an address at the same reunion, delivered by the late 
Rev. Ebenezer Alden, he adds some historical facts con- 
cerning the South school, which I will quote. "The old 
South school, its duration is covered by a period of 134 
years, extending from 1722 to 1856. March 4, 1822, 
the town voted to sanction a division of the old South school 
district, establish a line, remove the old schoolhouse and 
build a new one. . . . April 2, 18 10. the town was 



150 History of MarshHeld. 

divided into four school districts : South, Church, North, 
and Two Mile. The South was the part of the town south 
of South river, and probably a section northwest of the 
river. A schoolhouse of that earlier period stood where 
Mr. F. W. Hatch's stable, near where the railroad station 
now is, and earlier a school house was on the town land, now 
occupied by the cemetery south of the road. 

"The oldest South school was in existence in 1645, ^^^^ 
years after the incorporation of the town. It was estab- 
lished and supported by Edward Winslow, Thomas Bourne. 
Edward Bulkley, and others. 'This was the first movement 
towards a public school in either of the New England Colo- 
nies.' Brief and restricted as is the history of this school, 
it has the distinguished honor of being the legitimate suc- 
cessor of the pioneer school which inaugurated the system 
of public schools which has largely formed the character 
of our nation. 

"The site of the schoolhouse is on the land given to the 
town by the Colony and enlarged in territory by William 
Thomas for the maintenance of religious institutions which 
in early days held a place, though closely associated with 
them, higher than the educational. 

"Before the first old school in 1632, was the old South 
church, the thatched roofed meeting house of which stood 
on or by the side of the location of the first burying ground. 
A few rods south of this site stood the first old South par- 
sonage, occupied by Mr. Bulkely, and a few rods west the 
second parsonage, occupied by Mr. Arnold and others, and 
a few rods west of the third parsonage, associated with this 
spot, is the ecclesiastical history of this town, its progress 
in religion, in education, in social life, and material pros- 
perity for two hundred years." 

In a letter, William J. Baker, of North Pembroke, says : 
"The old South schoolhouse that 'we went to school in' (a 
half century or more ago) was situated near the residence 



History of Marshfield. 151 

of the late R. H. Moorhead where 'four ways meet.' It is 
converted into a tenement across the road opposite the for- 
mer site and owned by John Carver." The living gradu- 
ates have formed an association, called the "Old South 
School Association." President, George M. Baker, and 
its secretary is Erastus E. Williamson. A reunion is held 
annually. 

In the year 1700 I find a record of the public school sys- 
tem. Here the town did "then or there vote that Dr. Little 
should supply the place of schoolmaster for the instructing 
of youth in reading, writing & ciphering in the said town 
for the year ensuing & then promise & engage to the said 
town so to do. Also the town made choice of Mr. Samuel 
Sprague to be their Agent to answer in behalf of the town 
in respect of a presentiment that is made of the said town for 
defect of or not, having a schoolmaster in said town." 

1701. 
From the Tozvn Records. 

"The inhabitants of the town agreed with Dr. Thomas 
Little to serve the town as Schoolmaster for the year ensu- 
ing and in consideration thereof the town to free him from 
the poll tax for the said year and also to allow him 20 shil- 
lings." 

1703. 

"The town agreed with Mr. Peregrine White to be their 
Schoolmaster for the year ensuing and in consideration 
thereof the town to allow & pay to him, the said Peregrine 
White the sum of £1 — los (equal to $5.00) and also that 
all persons that send their children shall pay to him sixpence 
a week above & beside the sum aforesaid for each child that 
comes to be instructed." 

1710. 

"Ordered the school master to be one month at John 
Rogers and then the next 3 months to keep School at or 
near the house of Benj. Phillips, and the residue of the year 



152 History of MarshHeld. 

being six months at the School house on the South Side of 
the South River, Arthur Rowland teacher. Paid him 
£13 — los for keeping school one year." 
In 1713 paid him £27 a year. 

1715- 

"Instructed the Selectmen, or one of them to agree with 
Mr. Perez Bradford to keep school in town a quarter of a 
year for the present, and the Schools to be kept said quarter 
at or near Littletown (Sea View)." 

"Capt. Isaac Little & John Baker were appointed to agree 
with Gilbert Winslow for his old house for a school house 
for the town's use if they think it convenient and if not to 
agree for the building a new one as soon as may be, to be 
set on the land of John Jones Jr. at Littletown & to procure 
a place for the school to be kept in the meanwhile. And 
also to purchase of the owners thereof the school house by 
the Meeting house for the town's use." 

1717. 

"It was ordered that the sum they were rated towards the 
support of the schoolmaster the present year, for the ac- 
commodating them with a School Dame, they keep such a 
school six months in the year and it to be free for any in the 
town said time." 

"It was also agreed that the school house be rebuilt at Lit- 
tletown & that school be kept for the 'futer' yearly half a 
year at Littletown and that the inhabitants to Westward of 
Cove Brook have yearly allowed out of the school rate what 
they are therein rated provided, and so long as they in that 
neighborhood do keep a school Dame or some other school 
half of the year. £40 (equal to $133.33 i"3) ^'^'^s raised to 
pay Mr. Bell for his service in keeping schools in the town 
for One year." 

1736. 

"It was ordered that the school be kept in the South Side 
of South River in the School there 4 months and 4 months 



History of Marshfield. 153 

at the school house in Littletown and 4 months at the North 
End of the town near Thos Rogers." 

1752. 
"Town called a meeting to know whether Ebenezer Da- 
mon shall proceed & go on and build a school house near 
the North meeting house of the dimensions of the old school 
house at Littletown and it passed in the affirmative." 

1765- 
"We the subscribers being chosen a Committee to regulate 
the schools in the town of Marshfield and proportion the £23 
of money which was voted by the town over & above what 
they voted to James Lewis and being now met at the house 
of Abner Wright in said town and made choice of Abijah 
White Esq. Moderator, have come into the following reso- 
lution viz : 'First that the town school that Mr. Lewis keeps 
after the present year is up, shall be kept in 4 places in said 
town viz : that he shall keep the first three months at the 
house of Mr. Thomas Rogers in said town & that the next 
3 months he shall keep it at the old school house in the 
South house near the church and that he keep the last three 
months at the school house near Mr. Wales meeting house 
(north part of town. Unitarian church). And then as to 
the £23 (equal to $76.66 2-3) that the North part of said 
town shall have £3 (equal to $10) of it, equally divided be- 
tween the two schools in that part, that the South part of 
said town shall have £10 of the said sum equally divided 
between their two schools and as to the other £10 to the 
middle part of said town two thirds of it at the school house 
and the other third at the remotest part of that neighbor- 
hood if they will provide a place for it to be kept in, but if 
not then the whole of the amount at the school house, and 
also that Mr. Saml Oakman and Dea. Tilden shall provide in 
that part of said town and Esq. White, Capt. Danl White — 
Mr. Elisha Kent & Mr. Thos Little in their part & Mr. N. 
R. Thomas Esq. and Nehemiah Thomas in their part of 
said town." 

Marshfield xi 



154 History of MarsMeld. 

1777. 

"It was ordered that a New school House shall be built 
near the house of Thomas Rogers — north End of the town. 
Also that a Grammar school be kept this year in town, and 
that said school be kept 4 months at the North School house, 
near the Meeting house & 4 months at the old School house 
near the South Meeting house, & 2 months at the school 
house near the church meeting house & two months at the 
new school house which may be built & proportion the re- 
mainder of the Seventy pounds appropriated the schools 
among the private schools." 

1788. 

"40 pounds were raised for the use of Schooling the year 
ensuing, the one half to go to the support of Grammar 
schools & the other half to be to the support of small schools. 
A committee was chosen to consist of 12 persons, three for 
each of the four school houses." 

1790. 

"Selectmen provided schoolmasters. £60 was appropri- 
ated for schools the ensuing year, £48 of this sum was appro- 
priated for grammar schools." 

1791. 

"This year there was appropriated £36 to be laid out in 
an English school, also a Committee was chosen to divide 
the town into 8 districts for the purpose of the English 
schools, this Committee was also instructed to proportion 
the above sum £36 on the number of children from the age 
of four years old to 16 years old in each district and that 
the said Committee provide some persons to keep said 
Schools." 

1797. 

"At a meeting of the School Committee at Mr. Prince 
Hatche's, after proportioning the $600 raised for schools 
for the year, it was agreed that the Committee shall procure 
good teachers and if they prove not to be such the Commit- 



History of MarshHeld. 155 

tee to dismiss them & procure more. The Committee were 
instructed to visit the Schools and invite the ministers to go 
with them," 

1798- 

"A new school house was ordered to be built on the west- 
erly side of the parsonage near where the gate formerly 
stood." 

1799. 

"Four hundred Dollars was raised for schooling the 
present year. A new School house was ordered to be built 
in the North District." 

"In the year 1793 it was ordered that Luke Wadsworth 
be an agent to make answer in said town's behalf at the next 
Supreme Judicial Court to be holden at Plymouth to an 
indictment against said town for not having a grammar 
school from the first day of June to the first day of Oct. 

I79I-" 

1818. 

"Two thirds of the money raised for the use of the schools 
this year was spent in a latin Grammar school and the other 
third in an English grammar school." 

1819. 

Seven hundred dollars was raised for schools for the year. 

1833- 

George Leonard, Wales Clift and Isaac Dingley were 
chosen school committee. 

1838. 

"Allowed Danl Phillips' bill for land for School house and 
pay the special order." 

"We the subscribers being chosen a Committee in No- 
vember last to take into Consideration the making altera- 
tions in the North School district, having attended to that 
business do recommend as follows : That all the inhabitants 
on the road leading from Nathl Waterman to Danl Hall'? 
and all on the road leading from David Gorham's to Amos 



156 History of MarsMeld. 

Damon's be annexed to the Cornhill District, including said 
Hall & Damon & that all to the Southward and Eastward 
of Bear's brook be annexed to the Littletown district and 
we further recommend the School house be removed near 
the dwelling house formerly occupied by the late Jos Ewell 
deceased. 

John Bourne Jr. — Bourne Thomas & Elisha 

Kent Committee." 

1839. 

"It was decided this year to build a school house in the 
Two Mile district, and that Bourne Thomas — Eleazer Har- 
low & Ed. P. Little constitute the building Committee, and 
that said Committee proceed to build said house as soon as 
possible. $175 was appropriated towards building said 
house." 

In 1841 $1050 was raised for the use of the schools. 

1847. 

"It was ordered that One half of the school money be 
divided equally on the districts & the other half on the 
scholars." 

"The Selectmen were authorized with Moses F. Rogers 
to build on or before the first day of next November a new 
School house in Union District & they are further instructed 
to expend a sum not exceeding Four hundred Dollars & the 
proceeds of the sale of the old school house, which old house 
they are authorized to sell, which sums are for the building 
of said new school house and for the difference in the ex- 
change of the new site for that of the old site." 

1851. 

"The Prudential Committee was authorized and instructed 
to procure their school teachers." 

1853- 
"The town gave a vote of thanks to Rev. Geo. Leonard 
for the faithful manner he has served the town for twenty 
successive years as a member of the school Committee. He 
was succeeded by Hiram A. Oakman." 



History of MarsMeld. 157 

1862. 

"The Prudential Committee was authorized & instructed 
to prosecute any and all persons who may injure any of the 
school houses." 

The following were some of the school teachers in town 
in "Ye Olden Time." 

1723. — "It was voted in town meeting that Wm. Rand 
be desired to keep school for the year ensuing on the same 
terms as last year." 

1725. — Thomas Oliver was teacher at a salary of £50 
(equal to $166.66 2-3) per annum. 

From 1727 to 1730 Isaac Lewis was teacher. 

In 1733 Adam Richardson served as teacher. 

In 1739 Wm. Smith served. 

In 1746, 1747 and 1749, James Lewis taught. 

The old schoolhouse at Littletown (Sea View) was lo- 
cated half way up the hill, above the old railroad crossing, 
not far from the Sea View railroad station. 

1765. — "The town voted to raise the sum of £60 (equal 
to $200) for the support of schools the present year." 

This year there were two schools kept in the north part 
of the town, and two schools kept in the south part of the 
town. 

In 1766, 1767, 1768, 1773 and 1774 James Lewis served 
as teacher. 

In 1776, "voted that Thirty pounds (equal $100) be ap- 
propriated for schools the ensuing year, and be distributed 
to the six parts of the town, proportionally." 

A superintendent of schools was appointed a few years 
ago by the "Union district," so called, consisting of the 
school committee of the towns of Duxbury, Scituate and 
Marshfield. These three towns unite simply and only for 
the purpose of selecting and appointing a superintendent and 
regulating his duties in which the three towns as a Union 
District are concerned. Each of the towns regulate their 



158 History of MarshHeld. 

schools in their own way, as the town committee may decide. 
The salary of the superintendent is $1500, the larger part of 
which is paid by the State, the town being obliged to raise 
only $250 to meet their portion of the expense, a part of 
which it is claimed the State returns. There has been no 
consolidation of schools as yet, but the question is being 
agitated at this time. The High school is now located in 
the Ventress Memorial Building in South Marshfield. A 
Grammar school and a Primary school are kept in the school- 
house at the south part of the town, less than a quarter of 
a mile westerly of the First Congregational church. A 
Grammar and a Primary school, at the time of writing, are 
kept at Marshfield Hills in the schoolhouse which has been 
occupied by schools for half a century. Six ungraded 
schools are kept in the following districts : One at Cornhill, 
in the Union schoolhouse; one at "Two Mile," in the Two 
Mile house; one at Sea View, one at the Ferry, one in the 
Winslow district, and one at Brant Rock. 

There are eleven schools in all, including four graded 
schools and the High school. The salaries of the teachers 
range from eight to eleven dollars per week in all but the 
High and Grammar schools. The expenses of the schools, 
including transportation, for the year 1900 were about 
$7,000. For the year 1901 they are estimated at about 
$5,500, with no transportation. 

Our oldest citizens can remember when the schoolhouse 
at East Marshfield was located at Roger's Corners, on the 
site where the dwelling of Herbert Rogers now stands, and 
attended school there. Their fathers attended school a 
century or more ago at a schoolhouse near the Unitarian 
church. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Town Items — Forms of Intentions of Marriage. 

Sept. loth 1804 — "This may certify to whom it may con- 
cern that the intention of Marriage between Rev. EHjah 
Leonard of Marshiield and Miss Mary Delano of Scituate 
hath been entered within fourteen days and that legal pub- 
lication thereof hath been made in this town." 

"April 3 — 1805 — This may certify to whom it may con- 
cern that this intention of marriage between Doctor Charles 
Macomber of Marshfield & Miss Dorothy Hitchcock of 
Pembroke hath been entered within fourteen days and that 
Legal publication thereof hath been made." 

1824. 

"An agent was chosen to meet the Agents from Scituate 
& Duxbury Concerning adopting measures for securing ves- 
sels & cargoes that are cast on our Sea Shores for the ben- 
efit of Proprietors. Francis G. Ford, chosen Agent." 

1824. 

"Edward P. Little & others presented a petition at town 
meeting, praying to the Legislature to grant them an act of 
incorporation for the purpose of erecting a toll bridge across 
the North River, to get the sense of the meeting, the vote 
being yeas 22) & nays 17." 

1828. 

"At a town meeting held this year it was voted not to re- 
consider or make null & void the vote passed at their last 
town meeting of the fifth inst. empowering and authorizing 
an agent to refer or present a petition to the legislature of 
this Commonwealth praying for an act or law to separate & 
divide the town of Marshfield into two Separate and differ- 

159 



i6o History of MarshHeld. 

ent towns or townships agreeable to a petition of Capt. 
Jotham Tilden & others" (yeas 84 — nays 88). 

1829. 

"Our representatives were instructed this year to remon- 
sitrate in behalf of the town against the petition of Eleazer 
Harlow & others praying to the Legislature of this Com- 
monwealth to be set off from the town of Marshfield and 
annexed to the town of Duxbury, fifty for remonstrating 
and none against." 

"Also adopted provisions of an act of the Legislature of 
this Commonwealth passed the twenty first day of February 
in the year 1827 entitled an act to preserve and secure from 
Damage Marshfield Beach & the meadows thereto adjoin- 
ing which said act was recieved & continued in force by an 
act of the said Legislature passed the third day of March 
1829 — 141 yeas & 7 nays." 

1831. 

"Ordered that Neat Cattle may run at large within the 
limits of their town from the 20th of May next until the 
first day of November." 

1832. 

"It was ordered that the fence that now incloses the town's 
training field near the South Meeting house remain as it 
now is during the town's pleasure." 

"Also the town voted to purchase the house & land of 
Jeremiah Stevens for a pauper Establishment and voted 
that the Selectmen procure a deed of said house & land for 
the town and procure the money if wanted on the Town's 
credit & if not give him the Town Security. A committee 
was chosen to view the premises purchased for a pauper 
establishment and for them to see what they think is neces- 
sary to be done either in building or repairing or both for 
the Town & the convenience of the inmates and report at 
the next March Meeting & Bourne Thomas, Chandler Samp- 
son & Stephen Rogers were chosen a Committee for that 
purpose." 



History of MarshHeld. i6i 

1836. 

"An agent was chosen at the town meeting to meet the 
County Commissioners at Daniel Webster's in Marshfield, 
respecting the location of a road petitioned for by said Web- 
ster & others, & Capt. Bourne Thomas was chosen Agent 
for that purpose. The Agent was instructed to oppose the 
location of the road petitioned for by Daniel Webster and 
others." 

"The County Commissioners, however, authorized the 
building of the road, which ran from near the Winslow 
mansion house to the Marshfield & Duxbury line." 

1838. 

"A committee chosen were authorized to build a Town 
House, & to hire money on the town's credit to pay the re- 
mainder of the expense of said house." 

"It was also ordered that the Town House be opened for 
all meetings, except of an immoral tendency, and the care 
of the said house shall be with the Superintendent of the 
Aim's house, whoever he may be." 

1840. 

"Elijah Ames was chosen Treasurer, & voted him $20 for 
his services. He also was chosen Collector of Taxes; & all 
who pay the whole amount of all their taxes on or before the 
first of January, 1841, shall have five per cent, discounted 
out of their taxes; & all who do not pay by that time shall 
pay the whole amount." 

"This may certify to all whom it may concern, that the 
intention of marriage between David P. Hatch and Miss 
Mary D. Ames, both of Marshfield, hath been entered with 
me (town clerk) fourteen days, & published in the town of 
Marshfield, as the law directs — July 14, 1839. 

"This may certify that an intention of marriage between 
Mr. Henry Tilden and Miss Hannah Hatch of Marshfield 
has been entered 14 days & published in the town of Marsh- 
field, as the law directs — Nov. 23 — 1840." 



1 62 ■ History of Marshfteld. 

"This may certify to whom it may concern, that an in- 
tention of marriage between Mr. Warren Hall & Miss 
Meriam Baker, both of Marshfield, has been entered with me 
14 days, & published in the town of Marshfield, as the law 
directs — Jan. 18 — 1841." 

1847. 
"The town raised this year one thousand dollars for the 
repair of Highways. One-fourth to be expended in the 
summer, and the remaining three-fourths to be reserved for 
the winter." 



CHAPTER XL. 
Fugitive Slave Law. 

1851. 

"In town meeting held March 3rd, 185 1, it was voted to 
consider at this time the 14th article in the warrant, which 
Article relates to the Fugitive Slave Act, whereupon N. H. 
Whiting presented and read the following Preamble & Res- 
olutions :" 

"Whereas, the government of the United States is pro- 
fessedly based upon the great truth that all men are free and 
equal, and have an inalienable right to liberty, and whereas 
its Constitution was ordained for the purpose of establishing 
Justice, ensuring domestic tranquility providng for the com- 
mon defence, promoting the general welfare, and whereas 
the late Fugitive Slave Act, is not in accordance with this 
purpose, but is contrary to some of the express provisions 
of that instrument, among others, that which declares that 
no man shall be deprived of life or liberty v/ithout due 
process of law, and that men charged with crime or whose 
interests are at stake in suits at common law involving a 
sum equal to twenty dollars, shall be entitled to a trial by 
Jury ; and whereas this act is equally repugnant to our moral 
sense, a disgrace to the civilization of the age, and clearly at 
variance with the whole spirit of the Christian faith, there- 
fore 

Resolved, that until we are prepared to repudiate the prin- 
ciples of Independence, & abjure all our ideas of Justice and 
humanity, of truth & duty, we can be under no voluntary 
obedience to this act. 

Resolved, that while we love & defend the Union that se- 
cures the object for which this was said to be established, we 
are not to be deterred by any threats of disunion, or by any 

163 



164 History of MarshHeld. 

fear of evils, immediate or remote, present or future, from 
using all just and lawful means to aid & assist those who 
have the manliness & courage to escape from their prison 
house of bondage. 

Resolved, that while we desire liberty for ourselves; while 
we retain one spark of that spirit which led the Pilgrims 
across the Ocean ; while we have the least conception of those 
sublime precepts of the gospel which commands us to love 
our neighbors, to do unto others as we would have them do 
unto us; to feed the hungry, clothe the naked & relieve the 
suffering of the poor & the outcasts; while we recognize 
the obligations of charity & love & good will, our houses 
shall be open to welcome the hunted Fugitive as he passes 
our doors in his flight from the national bloodhounds, who 
are baying on his tract. 

Resolved, that we commend to every Fugitive from 
Slavery the glorious sentiment of Patrick Henry, 'Give me 
Liberty, or give me death.' Seizing upon this idea, let him 
use all the means which God will justify to protect his free- 
dom; and if he shall perish in the struggle for his birth 
right, as his last sigh mingles with the common air, and goes 
out over the world, and up to heaven, a swift witness against 
the nation which so foully murders him, let him breathe it 
to the wind that murmurs by him, and bequeath as an in- 
spiring influence to the panting fugitive he leaves behind 
him. 'Give me liberty or give me death.' Adopted, yeas, 
120 — Nays, 34." 

1851. 
Temperance. 

"In town meeting it was ordered that Moses F. Rogers, 
Geo. Leonard & Lincoln Damon be a committee to act in 
concert with committees of the towns of Duxbury and Pem- 
broke to make use of moral suasion, or other justifiable 
means to prevent the traffic in Ardent spirits at any place 
near the borders of these towns where it is believed the 
traffic exists." 



CHAPTER XLI. 

1852. 

Daniel Wcbstei''s Death. 

Tozvn Resolutions. 

At a town meeting, the Selectmen presiding, it was voted 
"that the clerk of the town be instructed to enter on the 
Record of this town, certain Resolutions passed at an ad- 
journed meeting of citizens of the town held on Thursday, 
October 28, A. D., 1852, and also a letter from Millard Fill- 
more, Acting President of the United States." 

At an adjourned meeting of the citizens of Marshfield, 
held without distinction of party, at their town house on 
Thursday, October 28th, the following resolutions were 
unanimously passed : 

"Whereas it has pleased an allwise Providence to remove 
from the scenes of Earth the Hon. Daniel Webster, Secre- 
tary of State, of the United States : therefore 

Resolved, that the citizens of Marshfield join in theUni- 
versal, deep toned lamentations that is pouring forth from 
every part of our land, and that will soon be heard coming 
over the waters from other lands, in consequence of the de- 
cease of our illustrious citizen. 

Resolved, that the cause of free political institutions 
throughout the world has lost a devoted friend and un- 
rivalled advocate. 

Resolved, that the people of this town mourn, in an es- 
pecial manner, the departure of him who, when he could 
be spared from his ardous public duties, has so long made 
his home among them. 

Resolved, that the name of Daniel Webster has caused to 
be associated with the name of our otherwise unpretending 
town, an immortal fame; and that we believe no spot on the 

165 



1 66 History of Marsh-field. 

American Continent — next to the 'shades of Vernon' — will 
be visited by the present and future generations, with more 
respect and veneration, than the tomb of Webster at Marsh- 
field. 

Resolved, that we have long revered his name, and been 
proud of the exalted station he attained; and now that he 
has gone to receive the reward — as we all believe — of a 
most useful and honored life, while we shall ever carry 
with us a remembrance of his exalted patriotism and lofty 
statesmanship, we shall also, as citizens of the same town 
with him, cherish with peculiar affection the recollection of 
his many acts of neighborly kindness, sympathy & gen- 
erosity. 

Resolved, that a delegation of fifty citizens be appointed 
on behalf of the town to meet at the place known as the 
'Winslow House' to receive the Governor and his Council 
on their approach to the late residence of the deceased, and 
to proceed thence to attend the funeral. 

Resolved, that the bells in this town be tolled from eleven 
o'clock till twelve on the day of the funeral, and that they 
be again tolled one hour at sunset. 

Resolved, that we offer to the family of the illustrious de- 
ceased our deep and heartfelt sympathy for their bereave- 
ment, though we feel that no language is adequate to ex- 
press fully our sense of its magnitude. 

Daniel Phillips, 

Chairmaji." 

From President Fillmore. 
"Daniel Phillips, Esq., 
Marshfield, Mass. 
Sir — I received this morning, through the mail, a copy 
of the Resolutions adopted on the 28th ult., at a meeting 
of the citizens of the town of Marshfield in honor of the late 
Daniel Webster, and I can assure you that they express no 
sentiment that does not receive my most cordial appropria- 



History of MarsMeld. 167 

tion. I regret extremely that my public engagements were 
so pressing that I was unable to testify my respect for the 
deceased by attending his funeral in person. This would 
have been a melancholy satisfaction. I am, however, grati- 
fied to know that his friends and neighbors duly appreciated 
his merits, and honored themselves in honoring him. His 
decease has left a void in the political and social circle, which 
will not soon be filled, and it will be long before we shall 
look upon another giant intellect like his. 

He has rendered his country great services, and I am 
happy to see by the tone of the public press, that now, at 
least, his merits are duly appreciated. I have the honor 
to be 

Truly yours, 
(Signed) Millard Fillmore." 



CHAPTER XLII. 
1861. 

The Civil War. 

"May I — $5,000 was voted at the town meeting for the 
defense of our rights, also a bounty of ten dollars to be paid 
to all persons who have or may enlist as soldiers whenever 
they shall be accepted and mustered into service, also voted 
to increase the monthly pay of each soldier to $25, who 
has been accepted and mustered into service, extending to 
those who may be drafted alike, with those who have or may 
enlist. Ordered that five dollars per month be added to 
those soldiers who have families. The patriotic services of 
the ladies, who have volunteered to make clothing, &c., for 
the soldiers, were accepted." 

"July 6 — One dollar per week was ordered to be paid by 
the town to the wife, & also one dollar per week to the chil- 
dren under 16 years of age of any citizen of this town, who 
has or may become a member of the volunteer militia of this 
state, and said pay shall commence when mustered into ser- 
vice of the United States, and shall continue until otherwise 
directed by a vote of this town at a meeting called for that 
purpose, but the amount shall not exceed 12 dollars per 
month to any one family ; and also one dollar per week shall 
be paid to each parent, brother or sister of the volunteer, 
who at the time of his enlistment was dependent on him for 
support, and the Selectmen shall have the power to decide 
on any doubtful cases. Also voted that those articles of 
clothing in the hands of the Selectmen be distributed by them 
to the volunteer soldiers, and if there should not be sufficient 
on hand for all of the soldiers, the Selectmen are hereby di- 
rected to procure them when called for." 

168 



History of MarsMeld. 169 

1861. 

"Nov. 5 — John A. Andrew's vote in Marshfield for Gov- 
ernor was 196, to Isaac Davis of Worcester, 17." 
Resolutions on the War. 
1862 — July 22. 

At a town meeting Nathaniel H. Whiting presented the 
following Resolutions, which were adopted : 

"Resolved, that in the dark & troubled night which sur- 
rounds us, we cherish with a deeper love and more exalted 
patriotism, the noble sentiment proclaimed in that early con- 
flict with the spirit of Disunion, on the floor of the Ameri- 
can Senate by our great statesman, now sleeping in our 
midst by the sounding sea he loved so well, 'Liberty and 
Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.' 

Resolved, that in defense of these, we will stand by the 
Government to the extent of our last dollar and our last 
man, preferring to leave for those who shall come after us, 
a wilderness like that our Fathers found when they sailed 
into yonder bay and landed on Plymouth rock, rather than 
this monstrous rebellion shall prevail. 

Resolved, that a committee be appointed, consisting of 
one from each school district, to aid in securing the quota of 
troops appointed to this town under the last call of the Presi- 
dent, and that for this object they be empowered to ofifer a 
bounty of one hundred dollars for each man who shall volun- 
teer and be accepted by the military authorities." 

1862. 

"The town agreed to pay a bounty of one hundred dol- 
lars to all soldiers who may enlist in response to the call of 
the President for the second three hundred thousand men, 
whenever they shall be accepted and mustered into the ser- 
vice of the United States." 

"Chas. P. Wright — Geo. M. Baker — Daniel Stevens — 
Luther Hatch — Chas. W. Macomber — Henry S. Bates — 
Nathaniel Church — Amos Sherman & Henry Leonard were 

Marshfield xii 



170 History of Marshfield. 

chosen a committee to obtain a war-fund by individual sub- 
scription to be also paid to those who may enlist, as above, 
and also to use all other means in their power to promote 
enlistments, as contemplated in the former vote passed at 
this meeting." 

1862. 

"Sept. 8 — It was ordered that we pay each soldier who 
has or may enlist under the last call of the President for 
soldiers to serve for nine months, the sum of fifty dollars 
in addition to the sum of one hundred dollars before voted." 

"Dec. 16 — The bounty offered for volunteers in the nine 
months' service was annulled. Also the sum of one hundred 
and fifty dollars to be paid to each of those who will enlist 
as soldiers in the three years' service to fill the quota, the 
supposed number being twelve." 

"All town officers who receive their pay from the town 
by the day, shall receive for their services the ensuing year, 
$1.25 pr. day, & no more; and the Treasurer to receive 
twenty-five dollars as his annual salary." 

1863. 

"The Selectmen were directed to loan one hundred and 
fifty dollars to each and every man who has or may be 
drafted under the present call of the President of the United 
States, whenever he shall be accepted, or whenever he has 
procured a substitute who has been accepted, and they shall 
take a note from each therefore bearing interest at the rate 
of one mill on a dollar per annum." 

1864. 

"Agreed to pay to each and all persons who shall volunteer 
as a soldier a sum not exceeding one hundred and twenty- 
five dollars, whenever enlisted and mustered into the ser- 
vice of the United States." 

Soldiers Return. 
1865— July 25. 

The following report of the Selectmen was adopted : 



History of Marsh-field. 171 

"The undersigned, a committee chosen at a meeting of the 
inhabitants of the town of Marshfield at the Town house on 
Monday 24th, inst., to ascertain the best method of express- 
ing our gratitude to our returned soldiers, respectfully sub- 
mit the following report: 

We believe that for the services of the soldier has ren- 
dered his country and the world, no adequate equivalent can 
ever be rendered, and inasmuch as it is a custom generally 
prevalent in towns for the people to assemble together and 
manifest their joy at his safe return, and their gratitude for 
his service by speech and song and festivities, &c. 

Therefore, we recommend that a meeting be held in the 
grove, near the Town House on Thursday, the loth of Au- 
gust next, at such hour as may be hereafter designated." 

1866. 

May 31 — The town met to hear the report of the com- 
mittee chosen at the last meeting. Report : 

"Your committee chosen and instructed to confer with 
the volunteers of the year, 1861, in regard to a settlement 
of their claims, have complied with those instructions, and 
submit the following report : 

"The result of our conference with the volunteers was, to 
obtain the following agreement, which we are willing to en- 
ter into with the town. 

"We, who have served as volunteers in the recent war, and 
enlisted in 1861 with the understanding that the town should 
make our pay equal to $25 and $30, pr month, agreeably to 
a vote of the town passed May i, 1861, hereby agree to re- 
linquish all claims under said vote, and to give a receipt in 
full, in writing, for all claims for monthly pay under that 
vote, when the town shall pay to us the sum of two hundred 
dollars each, for those who served their full term, or who 
re-enlisted, and a proportional sum for those who served % 
less period, and provided the widows and children of our 
comrades, who have fallen or died in the service, shall re- 



172 History of MarshHeld. 

ceive a like sum. Signed — Henry Tolman — Henry B. Bon- 
ney — Caleb E. Bailey — Jesse L. Lewis — Josiah C. Crowell 
— ^James C. Phillips — Daniel Stetson — Abijah Ewell — 
Martha Sherman — Hannah Ewell — Thatcher Ewell — Han- 
nah E. Sampson — Harriet T. Ewell — Geo. E. Crossly — 
Charles Stevens — Ethan A. Randall — Anson Hatch — 
Nathan F. Hopkins — 18. 

"And your committee would recommend the acceptance 
of those conditions on the part of the town, and that the 
claims of all volunteers of 1861 be settled on these principles, 
who enlisted previous to the act of the Legislature passed 
at special session of 1861 — limiting the action of the town to 
three months, provided it can be legally done. Signed — 
R. H. Moorehead — Seth Weston — Daniel Stevens — Stephen 
Gardner — H. A. Oakman." 

The names of soldiers who took part in the Civil War of 
1861 to 1865 from Marshfield, are as follows: 

"Alfred W. Stoddard— Geo. Baker— C. Wm. Estes— 
Nathaniel J. Porter — Wm. Rogers — James L. Rogers — 
James E. Baker — Henry S. Bates — Edwin Curtis — Peleg S. 
Sherman — Ed. H. Davis — Wm. Williamson — Chas. W. 
Bailey — E. F. Cudworth — Israel H. Carver — Daniel E. 
Ewell — Ed. A. Falvey — Thos. P. Ford — S. Nelson Gardner 
— Lorenzo D. Harrington — Samuel Holmes — Ed. Hatch — 
Samuel F. Hatch — Chas. R. Hatch — Calvin O. Hatch — 
John F. Hatch — Asa W. Hewit — John A. Keen — Wm. 
Byran Little — Geo. T. Osborn — Wm. S. Porter — Josiah 
Randall — Jos. Sherman — Jona. J. Simmons — Josiah 
Thomas — Lucius Thomas — James A. Wright — Calvin Wil- 
liamson, Jr. — Peter Williamson — And. J. Williamson — 
Geo. W. Eames — Henry F. Ford — Henry W. Holmes — Geo. 
S. Lapham — John Williamson — Anthony W. Williamson — 
Samuel C. Baker — Lucius L. Bonney — Fred A. Delano — 
John G. Fish — Calvin Joyce — Nicholas Porter, Jr. — Calvin 



History of Marshfield. 173 

Porter, Jr. — Geo. W, Sears — Moses Sherman — Eben S. 
Thomas — Georgiana White — Warren F. White — Wm. H. 
Tolman — James C. PhilHps — Geo. Atwell — Israel H. Hatch 
— Jona. J. Simmons — David T. Phillips — Augusta Hatch 
— Col. Hiram A. Oakman — Henry Tolman — Ethan 
A. Randall — Josiah C. Crowell — Job L. Ewell — Ezra 
W. Hatch — Nathan F. Hopkins — Allen Wright — Caleb E. 
Bailey — Geo. E. Crossley — Edmund Crossley — David 
Church — Chas. H. Corbett — Thatcher Ewell — Samuel H. 
Ewell — John M. Ford — Josiah Joyce — Jesse L. Lewis — 
Francis P. Lewis — Nathan Sherman, Jr. — Japhet S. Samp- 
son — Chas. Stevens — Wm. H. Tolman — Seth Williamson — 
James C. Phillips — Benj. H. Manning — Ed. R. Merry — An- 
son Hatch — Abijah Ewell — Gilman Mitchell — Wm. W. 
Randall — Daniel Stetson — Fletcher Webster, Col — (son of 
Daniel Webster) — Chas. Tolman — Silas W. Carver — Lu- 
cius E. Chandler — Francis A. Corlew — Geo. Atwell — Leroy 
S. Bonney — Justin A. Carver — Judson Ewell — Henry P. 
Oakman — Samuel J. Ross — Edwin Atwell — Robert Ames — 
Wm. J. Baker — Levi W. Bailey — Edward F. Damon — 
Turner Ewell, Jr. — James W. Fish — Seth O. Fitts — James 
Green — Albert Holmes — Albion Hatch — Andrew W. Hatch 
—Chas. P. Hatch— Wilbur F. Harrington— Chas. A. 
Nichols — Chas. W. Osborn — Chas. F. Perry — David T. 
Phillips — Freeman A. Ramsdell — Martin Ramsdell, Jr. — 
Josiah C. Stoddard — Jos. W. Clift — Franklin J. Manning — 
T. Correggio Brown — Nelson Ewell — Frederick H. Ewell — 
J. Alonzo Ewell — Lyman Fitts — Jos. E. Williamson — An- 
drew L. Damon — Church C. Lapham — Hiram Butterfield, 
Jr. — Ethan A. Randall — Allen Wright — Geo. E. Crossley — 
Francis A. Corlew — Josiah Thomas — Edwin Curtis — Ed. 
H. Davis." 

The following are soldiers who died in the service, and 
some, who were wounded, some of whom are now living in 
1901 : 



174 History of MarshHeld. 

"Robert Ames — Lewis W. Bailey — Lucius L. Bonney — 
Hiram Butterfield, Jr. — Justin A. Carver, wounded in throat 
or lungs, now living, the bullet has never been extracted — 
David Church — killed, and for whom the Grand Army Post 
in Marshfield is named — Chas. W. Cobbett — Edmund Cross- 
ley, wounded and died within 28 days — Edwin 
Curtis, wounded and died within 6 days — Job L. Ewell, 
wounded and died within 30 days — Samuel H. Ewell — Tur- 
ner Ewell, Jr. — James W. Fish — S. Nelson Gardner, who 
died at the war — Wilbur F. Harrington — Andrew W. Hatch 
— Joseph Joyce — Col. Hiram A. Oakman, wounded, now liv- 
ing — Freeman A. Randall, wounded — Josiah C. Stoddard — 
Josiah Thomas — Col. Fletcher Webster — killed in battle- 
Joseph E. Williamson — James A. Wright — Church C. Lap- 
ham, a drummer boy, wounded in leg, now living." 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

1867— July 8. 

To7vn Record Selection. 

"Ordered by the town that the town Treasurer be and is 
hereby authorized and instructed in the name of the town 
to subscribe for and take seven hundred and fifty shares (at 
$100 pr. share) of the capital stock of the Duxbury and 
Cohasset Railroad, agreeable to the provisions of said Char- 
ter. Provided the sum of two hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars be subscribed for and taken by the towns of 
Scituate and Duxbury, or other corporations. The result 
of the voting was yeas, 176 — Nays, 37." 

1870. 

Wales R. Clift presented at the town meeting the fol^ 
lowing resolutions : 

"Believing that taxation without representation is as of- 
fensive to the people of the town in 1870 as it was in its 
colonial days of 1770. Therefore, Resolved: That in the 
great taxation which we have imposed upon ourselves by 
subscribing for stock in the Cohasset and Duxbury Railroad, 
we feel that we are not fairly and impartially represented 
by our Director, Nathaniel H. Whiting, who ignores the 
wishes of the town in its location for their mutual accom- 
modation as far as practicable, and regards the desire of a 
mammoth corporation which takes the oyster of the shore 
route for its own aggrandizement, and leaves a large por- 
tion of citizens of the town with nothing to hope for or ex- 
pect but the shell and a burdensome taxation for themselves 
and their children after them, therefore we request him to re- 
sign, that we may have a Director who is willing to carry out 

175 



176 History of MarshReld. 

the wishes of the town. Yea and nay vote was called on 
the above Resolution, and was decided in the negative by 
a vote of yeas, 155 — nays, 187." 

The citizens at the 'Two Mile' and 'Cornhill' at North 
Marshfield, living nearly three miles from the railroad sta- 
tion at Marshfield Hills (the nearest station) felt that it 
was unjust to make them pay the increased taxes that would 
arise from the railroad debt by locating the railroad at the 
outer limits of the town, bordering the marshes along the 
shore, when by locating the road in the center of the town 
it would give all equal accommodations, and just and equal 
taxation and representation. 

But the railroad authorities argued that a shore route 
would meet in the end with a larger patronage, and hence 
be more desirable for the corporation; and thus the es- 
tablishment of this route was consummated. 

1871. 

"The sale of Porter, Strong beer and Lager beer was pro- 
hibited by the town, and no persons were allowed to sell the 
same within the town of Marshfield for the year ensuing, 
Yeas, 44 — Nays, 6." 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

Marshfleld Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 

One of the best and most useful institutions to the farm- 
ers of Marshfield and vicinity is, and has been, the Marsh- 
field Agricultural & Horticultural Society. 

It was organized in 1867, and incorporated in 1868. It 
was a successful movement from the start; not only did the 
farmers of the town become interested, but everybody, 
whether engaged in Agriculture, Horticulture or not, were 
interested in the society, and the interest was not limited to 
the confines of the town, but Duxbury, Scituate, Pembroke 
and some other near by towns in the county became part 
and parcel of the society and worked for its advancement. 
Its officers were scattered through neighboring towns. The 
annual fairs held by the society in September, and sometimes 
in August, have been a great attraction to the people. 

It has brought together in a sort of "home week" the na- 
tives whose homes are removed some distance from their 
native soil in Boston, Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree and 
more distant places, and here on the fair grounds once a 
year they meet their former schoolmates; and not only the 
people out of town, but the residents of the town come to- 
gether, not having met since the last fair, a year before, and 
they chat, laugh and enjoy a good social time. It is a gala 
day for the country around. This, however, is only a part 
of the attractions. Fruit and vegetables are brought in 
abundance. The tables in the hall and basement are filled 
with them, affording a beautiful display, and giving the 
visitor an opportunity (if a farmer) of comparing his own 
products with those on exhibition. Then the exhibition of 
cattle, horses, swine, sheep and poultry attract the eye of all 

177 



178 History of Marshfield. 

visitors, whether farmers or not, and again a part of the 
liall is given up to specimens of female industry, art, needle- 
work, bread, butter, cheese, preserves and a floral exhibit. 
The horse trot, as in all other Agricultural fairs, is a promi- 
nent feature of this exhibition, and in the minds of many, 
perhaps, too prominent in an Agricultural and Horticultural 
Exhibition for profit. A fine band of music adds interest 
to the fair. The exhibition of oxen used to be a promi- 
nent feature. We have seen a quarter of a century ago a 
line of a hundred yoke of oxen marching around the 
track and headed by a brass band; and to-day not a single 
yoke is seen anywhere on the fair grounds. Horses have 
taken their place, being swifter of foot and doing as much 
work. Another feature of the fair is the ploughing match. 
Formerly oxen and horses competed, but now horses only, 
and at the last fair even this was omitted. Testing the 
drawing capacity of a pair of farm horses by pulling a farm 
wagon loaded with rocks, over blocks of wood, is a feature 
of the fair that attracts some attention. The fair is gen- 
erally held three days. The first day is called the prepara- 
tion day. 

The society for the last year or two have introduced out 
door athletic sports, and humorous performances on the 
stage. 

The first officers of the society were Geo. M. Baker, Presi- 
dent ( whose popularity kept him in office continuously near- 
ly, if not quite twenty years) ; Levi Walker, Vice President; 
John Baker, Secretary; Warren Kent, Auditor, and Luther 
Thomas, Constant Oakman, Frank P. Arnold, Stephen 
Henry, Chas. T. Hatch, Chas. P. Wright, Jos. O. Cole. 
Jona. S. Ford, Bailey Chandler, James S. Bates and Hiram 
Randall, directors. The following have served as Presi- 
dents since its organization: Geo. M. Baker, Wm. J. 
Wright of Duxbury; John Parks of Plymouth; Ex. Gov. 
Geo. W. Emery, Walton Hall, Col. Hiram A. Oakman, who 



History of Marshfield. lyg 

is now serving" in 1901. The members of the Massachusetts 
Board of Agriculture, who have represented this Society, are 
as fohov/s : Geo. M. Eaicer of Marshfield, who served many 
years as its first representative, then Hon. Daniel E. Damon, 
of Plymouth; George J. Peterson, Lysander S. Richards, 
John H. Bourne, Walton Hall, of Marshfield; and the pres- 
ent occupant in 1901, is Henry B. Turner, of Nor well; term 
three years. 

The debt of the society at present, 1901, is about $3,200. 
It was considerably larger, but the bequest of the late Hon. 
Nathaniel H. \\'hiting. amounting to about $1,800, reduced 
it to the present moderate sum. This debt is secured by 
notes signed by several of the directors and friends of the so- 
ciety. The society has been unfortunate in having its hall 
partly wrecked twice by severe gales. In its early history 
the hall blew over while in the process of erection, and it 
was again partly wrecked in the great gale of 1898. In 
both instances the building was rebuilt through the efforts 
of zealous friends of the society, who raised enough money 
for the purpose. A new grand stand was built a few years 
ago, during the administration of Ex. Gov. Emery, then 
President of the society, at an expense of about $3,000. half 
of which was raised by popular subscription. A half mile 
race track for horse trots was built nearly quarter of a 
century ago. 

The following are the officers in 1901 : Col. Hiram A. 
Oakman, President; Walton Hall and Capt. Albert T 
Sprague, Vice Presidents; Herman Kent, Treasurer; Israel 
H. Hatch, Secretary; Lysander S. Richards, Auditor; and a 
board of eleven Directors as follows: H. A. Baker of 
Rockland; T. B. Blackman, Chas. F. Church, Walter E. Da- 
mon, Winthrop T. Hall, Barker Sprague, Lucius Thomas of 
Marshfield; Walter T. Osborne, James W. Sampson of Nor- 
well; Otis Standish of Pembroke, and Frederick Cole of 
Scituate. Member of the Board of Agriculture, Henry A. 
Turner of Norwell. 



i8o History of MarshHeld. 

For many years, nearly a quarter of a century, Dr. Francis 
Collamore, of North Pembroke, served faithfully and well 
as its Treasurer and Secretary, and only resigned a year ago 
on account of ill health. There are about 850 members of 
the society. Life membership, $5.00. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

Clift Rodgcrs Free Library. 

The founder of the Clift Rodgers Free Library and HalJ 
was Mr. Clift Rodgers, a native of Marshfield Hills, form- 
erly East Marshfield. Mr. Rodgers was born in Marsh- 
field, Dec. 4, 1806. At the age of 19 he went to Ouincy 
Mass., where he learned the currier's trade, and after carry- 
ing on the business some twenty-five years, he moved to 
Boston and engaged in the hide and leather business, where 
he amassed a moderate fortune. 

Retiring about 1867, he returned to Marshfield and spent 
the remainder of his days here on his native hills in the en- 
joyment of a well spent life. 

He died in 1897. in his ninety-first year. His loving 
wife preceded him in his journey beyond by four years. 

About two months before his decease he directed the au- 
thor of this History to get incorporated and organize an 
association for the building of a Free Library and Hall, and 
after its incorporation and organization he placed in the 
hands of the Treasurer the sum of $5000 for the purchase 
of a site in Marshfield Hills and the erection of a building 
thereon. It was organized and incorporated as the Clift 
Rodgers Free Library Association, with the following per- 
sons as its corporators and officers : President, Lysander S. 
Richards; secretary, George H. Weatherbee; treasurer, Mrs. 
Miriam G. Richards; directors, Marcellus W. Rogers, James 
L. Rogers, Miss Henrietta Hall, Wendell Phillips, and 
Horace T. Fogg. 

Since its organization Miss Miriam G. Richards, its first 
treasurer, and Wendell Phillips, a director, have passed 
away, and Miss Eleanor R. Richards was chosen to fill the 
vacant office of treasurer. Mr. Rodgers did not live to see 
the erection of the building he donated. The site he se- 

181 



1 82 History of MarshHeld. 

lected and purchased just before his decease, where the 
building now stands. It is nearly opposite the Orthodox, 
or Second Trinitarian Congregational church, and near the 
so-called "Rodgers Corners," Marshfield Hills. It was 
built by William L. Sprague in a thorough, workmanlike 
manner. H. W. Rogers of Lynn was the architect. 

It is a one story building, with a library or stack room 
and reading room on the southwesterly end. The hall and 
stage are on the northeasterly end. The nucleus of the 
library was furnished by the East Marshfield Public Library 
(a small library located years before in the East Grammar 
schoolhouse). The library now contains about looo vol- 
umes and is well patronized. It is opened once a week, 
afternoon and evening. Mr. Edgar Hood has served as 
librarian since the building was completed. 

The conditions of the gift are that the hall should be 
always free to Spiritualist speakers, provided they pay for 
lighting, heating, and the janitor's fee. Mr. Rodgers, the 
donor, was a Spiritualist, but since the hall was built there 
has been no demand from that source. The hall is let more 
or less for small assemblies, lectures and entertainments. 
Its seating capacity is about 200. 

The expense of running the library, including the salary 
of the librarian, is mostly paid from the interest of the fund 
remaining, amounting to about $1250. It is not a town 
institution, only in the sense that its citizens are allowed to 
take out books from the library free. It is a perpetual cor- 
poration, founded at the v/ish of Mr. Rodgers. It is placed 
in the hands of seven trustees, who have power to fill va- 
cancies whenever they may occur. The demand at present 
for books is mostly for fiction, although it is the purpose of 
the government to furnish nothing but good books. It is 
hoped as the years roll by that a higher taste for reading 
will be cultivated by our citizens. There are plenty of high 
class books in the library worth reading. Books will be 
added from time to time as the funds in the treasury permit. 



CHAPTER XLVL 
Formation of Grand Army Post and Ladies' Relief Corps. 

Some twelve years ago Mr. James L, Rogers, with the 
assistance of John H. Eames (both soldiers in the Civil war 
of 1861), conceived the idea of starting a Grand Army Post 
in this town, and Mr. Rogers stating his purpose to the 
author, the latter made it public in his regular correspond- 
ence in the Marshfteld Mail. Mr. Wales Rogers, father of 
James, was the proprietor of the only hall at the Hills at 
that time, known as Rogers' Hall, and through the influence 
of his son, he granted the use of his hall free for one year, 
for the purpose of establishing a Post. Mr. James Rogers 
then, with the assistance of Mr. Eames, began the work of 
enlisting the sympathy and interest of the war veterans in 
the movement, and at the first two or three meetings they 
could not get but two or three interested. 

The Post, however, in due time and process of form was 
organized and called the "David Church Post," named after 
the first soldier from Marshfield killed in the war. Mr. 
Rogers did janitor work in taking care of the hall gratui- 
tously. After a year and a few months' occupation of the 
hall, the Post moved to a small hall fitted up for the purpose 
over the store of the late Elisha W. Hall. Here they re- 
mained until the purchase of the old Rogers Hall and a 
small piece of land surrounding it. This building was re- 
paired and extended in length, the mid-floor removed, and 
a large stage added. A beautiful building, both interior 
and exterior, was thus added to the town's attractions. 
The building has cost the Post over $3000. 

Soon after the organization of the Post, the Woman's 
Relief Corps was started and organized in due form as an 

183 



184 History of Marshfield. 

auxiliary or aid to the Grand Army Post, and the assist- 
ance rendered the Post through the untiring efforts of these 
women has been an untold benefit. Their labors have been 
given mostly in the direction of paying off a part of the 
debt on the building. A mortgage was obtained upon the 
property of $2000 when the building was completed, and 
through the efforts of the Post, in successfully putting plays 
upon the stage, and the assistance of the ladies of the W. R. 
C. in the holding of fairs and entertainments, the debt has 
been reduced to about $800. 

Memorial Day is observed by the Post and the Woman's 
Relief Corps every year in decorating the deceased soldiers' 
graves in the cemeteries of the town, and exercises are held 
in the Grand Army Hall. 

A soldiers' monument in memory of the soldiers who were 
killed and died from wounds and diseases resulting from 
the effects of the Civil war, was erected by the town at 
Marshfield Hills, near the site of the Unitarian meeting- 
house and in front of the cemetery adjoining. It was 
erected some ten years ago. It is constructed of Quincy 
granite, with the life-size figure of a soldier on top of the 
pedestal, and a gun at rest in the grip of the soldier's hand. 
Its cost was about $1500. The committee in procuring the 
monument and selecting the site were Col. Hiram A. Oak- 
man, John H. Eames and Henry Tolman. Some time after 
its erection, its dedication took place. The celebration of 
this event was attended by people not only of this town, but 
from all the adjoining towns. The orator of the day was 
our Secretary of the Commonwealth, Hon. William Olin. 
The commander of the Post at this time was Josiah Crowell, 
who was the president of the day. Col. H. A. Oakman 
had charge of the procession. 

The commanders of the Post who have served since its 
organization are : John H. Eames, who served several years, 
Tosiah Crowell, Judson Ewell, Col. H. A. Oakman. Israel 



History of MarsMeld. 185 

Carver, and Elbridge Baker, who is its present commander. 
Some years ago the Sons of Veterans were formed, and they 
have been a flourishing organization. They hold their 
meetings in the old Agricultural Hall, at Marshfield. 



Marshfield xiii 



CHAPTER XLVII. 
Stores. 

In the early part of the 19th century, Proctor Bourne kept 
store at Marshfield on the spot where the postoffice is now 
located, after which the store was kept by George Martin 
Baker. Following him, his son George carried on the busi- 
ness, after whom the father took the store again, and now 
it is continued by Mr. Augustus Barstow, agent. The post- 
office is now located here, and Mr. Barstow holds the office 
of postmaster. Another store about the middle of the 19th 
century was built by Henry Crossley about half a mile from 
said store, just above the old mill and South river bridge. 
It was kept by him for some years. He was followed by 
Luther P. and Charles Hatch, and soon L. P. Hatch bought 
the interest of Charles Hatch and carried on the store alone. 

Some few years later L. P. Hatch built the large store 
now occupied by the so-called "Marshfield Store." The 
Crossley store was burned a few years after Mr. Hatch 
moved into his new store. Here he continued in the busi- 
ness for many years. 

Another small store close by was kept by Charles Harlow 
some years ago. 

At Sea View a store was built in the middle of the last 
century and carried on by George H. Weatherbee, Jr., in a 
part of the building now known as Pecker's shoe shop. The 
building used in after years as a shoe factory by George 
Pecker is now abandoned. Mr. William Smith kept store 
a short while here. Opposite this building, across the 
street, a smaller store was erected, and here George Currell 
carried on the grocery business. He was followed later by 
William Randall. It is now kept by Chester Ewell. 

186 



History of MarshUeld. 187 

At North Marshfield, in the village known as Cornhill, 
Miss Mary Conant somewhere in the seventies kept store 
in a building adjoining George Conant's residence, opposite 
the road leading to Gravelly Beach. The store is now 
closed, and there is no store in that portion of the town. 

At East Marshfield (now Marshfield Hills), in the early 
part of the 19th century, Danforth Hall carried on the store 
business in a building on the grounds now owned by Albert 
Holmes. Later he built the store and residence now occu- 
pied by George H. Weatherbee, town treasurer. After a 
few years he sold out to Henry Clapp. Mr. Hall was 
grandfather of the late Elisha W. Hall, one of the most suc- 
cessful merchants the town has ever known. Mr. Clapp 
was succeeded by George H. Weatherbee, Sr., father of the 
present town clerk and treasurer. W. & C. Ames followed 
Mr. Weatherbee. 

Directly opposite this store Elisha W. Hall and George 
H. Weatherbee, Jr., erected a large, two story building in 
which they carried on the grocery and dry goods business. 
After a few years Mr. Hall bought Mr. Weatherbee's inter- 
est and conducted the business alone for many years. Mr. 
Weatherbee then occupied the old store adjoining his house, 
but after a few years he gave up the business, and as treas- 
urer and town clerk his office is here located. Mr. E. W. 
Hall was succeeded by his son, Winthrop, who is at present 
conducting the business. 

In the middle of the 19th century the late Henry Tilden 
kept store at the "Two Mile," in a building now used as a 
residence and formerly occupied by Mr. Albion Hatch, on 
the corner of a road leading to Samuel F. Hatch's sawmill. 
Later he built and occupied the store at Marshfield Hills 
now rented by G. F. Drew as a grocer. After Mr. 

Henry Tilden, Capt. Charles F. Tilden conducted the busi- 
ness for many years. It is now carried on by his grandson, 
the said G. F. Drew. Henry Tilden built a store adjoining 



1 88 History of Marshileld. 

his late residence, and after carrying on the business a few 
years, retired. 

Henry Carver (formerly a clerk in Capt. Tilden's store) 
bought, a few years ago, the late residence of Dr. Hagar, 
and built a store on the easterly end of his house, and is at 
present conducting a prosperous business there. 

Tea Rock. 

We do not have in Marshfield an historic rock, like Plym- 
outh Rock, a relic of the Pilgrims, but we have a rock that is 
a relic of the Revolution. When the Boston Tea Party 
threw overboard in the Boston Harbor all the tea on the 
ships in the harbor, the patriots of Marshfield learned there 
was a large quantity of tea secreted by some authorities in 
the cellar of a house on the site now occupied by Mr. Seav- 
erns, two or three hundred feet from the street leading from 
the First Congregational church to the Marshfield station. 
The Marshfield patriots, not to be outdone by the Boston tea 
sinkers, marched to the said house and demanded the tea. 
Resistance being useless, it was given up and carried to a 
rock on a hill directly opposite Dr. Stephen Henry's resi- 
dence, not far from the First Congregational church, and 
there heaped upon this huge rock, it was set afire and burned 
to ashes. This rock (what there is remaining of it) has 
since been called "Tea Rock." 



CHAPTER XLVIIL 
Green Harbor Dike. 

Not only will this description of the Dike give some idea 
of its purpose and development, but it will also make future 
generations better acquainted with the present conditions 
and extent of the salt marshes in the region of Green Harbor 
river. Nothing has occurred in any town in Plymouth 
County for the past century that has probably created more 
contention, opposition, and bad feeling, than the building 
and continuation of the dike across Green Harbor river in 
Marshfield. Year after year it has been a bone of conten- 
tion in our town meetings. It has entered our politics, and 
the question was obliged to be solved whether a man up for 
office was a Diker, or an Anti-Diker. The feeling became 
so intense against the dike that about a decade ago the dike 
was blown up and severely damaged. It finally became 
necessary to keep a watchman there night and day to guard 
it, lest it be blown up again. 

The reason of such intense opposition was that the fisher- 
men in the vicinity of Green Harbor river claimed that the 
diking of the river nearly ruined the fishery business, as the 
lack of a sufficiently strong current to carry off the sand 
accumulating there year after year resulted in the filling up 
of the river. Most of the residents at Green Harbor and 
Brant Rock are Anti-Dikers. Some others, who owned a 
portion of the salt marsh affected by the diking of the river, 
claimed that they preferred their salt meadows without a 
dike, desiring the crop of salt hay therefrom, rather than 
bearing their portion of the expense in the construction of 
the dike. 

The Dikers claimed it was for the public good, that the 

189 



IQO History of MarsMeld. 

meadows diked would produce good, fresh hay, garden and 
fruit crops in abundance without a particle of manure of 
any description. What it has done will be mentioned fur- 
ther on. 

After several ineffectual attempts to get the Massachusetts 
Legislature to open the dike, this body in 1896 appointed a 
joint commission, consisting of the Board of Harbor and 
Land Commissioners and the State Board of Health, for the 
purpose of considering the proposition of the Anti-Dikers of 
opening the dike and restoring Green Harbor to its former 
condition. After a thorough investigation they reported 
that it was inexpedient to open or remove the dike, but 
recommended the building of jetties at the mouth of Green 
Harbor to direct the current and prevent the waves from 
driving the sand and shingle into the channel, and this has 
been done, at an estimated expense of $66,880, by the state. 

To give a cursory explanation of this great enterprise, I 
feel I cannot do better than make such selections from the 
report of the said joint commissioners as will in my judg- 
ment most interest the readers of this history. "The small 
village of Green Harbor is situated in the southeasterly por- 
tion of the town of Marshfield, at the mouth of Green Har- 
bor river. The permanent population of the region lying 
about Green Harbor is not large — probably less than 200 — 
but the attractions of the place are sufficient to bring here in 
summer nearly 2500 temporary residents." 

"The region about Green Harbor was occupied by settlers 
from Plymouth soon after the establishment of the Colony, 
and in the Court Records, under date of July i, 1633, ap- 
pears the following entry : 'That unless Mr. Gilson, John 
Shaw and the rest that undertooke the cutting of the pas- 
sage between Green's Harbor & the bay, finish it before the 
first of October next ensuing, according to covenant, they 
be amerced in ten pounds; but if any of them will doe it, 
the fine be exacted of the rest, & they paid for their labour.* 



A 



History of MarshHeld. 191 

"Early in 1636 there is another order of the court, that 
the cut at Green's Harbor for a boat passage be made 18 feet 
wide and six feet deep, and the governor with certain as- 
sistants was authorized to do the work. The cut referred 
to in these extracts is evidently a channel cut to enable boats 
to pass from Plymouth Harbor to Green Harbor river, and 
thereby avoid going outside the Gurnet. 

"In 1785 a petition was presented to the General Court 
asking for an act to prevent the use of Marshfield beach for 
grazing purposes. No act was granted at this time, but in 
connection with this petition a copy of a will was presented, 
in which the marsh lands in the vicinity of Bass creek, a 
tributary of the Green Harbor river, entering it about a mile 
above the dike, are referred to as salt 'marshes.' No fur- 
ther reference that is of interest in connection with Green 
Harbor is found in the Colonial Records. Upon the riiap 
of Marshfield made in 1794, on file in the department of the 
secretary of the Commonwealth, the mouth of Green Har- 
bor river is shown to be about five-eighths of a mile south 
of its present outlet." 

"The first mention of Green Harbor that is of interest in 
the Acts and Resolves of the State, is in 1807, when an act 
was passed to establish a corporation for the purpose of 
draining Green's Harbor marsh, so called, in the town of 
Marshfield. The petition for this act appears to have been 
presented to the House of Representatives on May 29. 1806, 
and is as follows : 

" 'The subscribers, owners and occupants of certain mead- 
ows, lying in the town of Marshfield in the County of Plym- 
outh humbly represent, that whereas a certain River, called 
Green's Harbor River in said town of Marshfield has in 
times passed afforded an outlet to the waters, which have 
overflowed about two thousand acres of said Marsh, & 
whereas lately the mouth of said River has been closed, by 
beach sand, confining a great body of water on said Marsh, 



192 History of MarshHeld. 

which may prove entirely destructive of said meadows and 
it has become absolutely necessary that said water should be 
drawn off in the most convenient manner possible, and 
Whereas, we the subscribers, owners and occupants of the 
said Marsh aforesaid, for the preservation of the same, have 
associated for the purpose of draining said waters from said 
Marsh into Duxboro Bay, by digging a canal for said water 
and having in said enterprise expended about the sum of 
three thousand dollars for the purpose aforesaid, pray the 
Honorable Court, that we & our associates may be incor- 
porated into a Body Politic, to manage the above undertak- 
ing and be possessed of all the powers and priveleges, usually 
granted to similar incorporations and as in duty bound will 
ever pray — 

" '(Signed) Isaac Winslow, and others.' 

"In response to this petition, Chapter 39 of the Acts of 
1807 was passed on Feb. 11, 1807, incorporating the Green's 
Harbor Canal Co., for the purpose of draining Green's Har- 
bor Marsh in the town of Marshfield." 

"An act was passed in 1831 by the General Court, on 
petition of the Green's Harbor Canal Co., dissolving that 
company for the reason, as claimed by the company, that 
the purposes for which the corporation was created had been 
effected so far as the same was practicable. 

"The dike was completed in the year 1872, at a cost of 
$32,090.79, and subsequently, in 1879, was widened to carry 
the road from Green Harbor to Brant Rock. The Acts of 
1 87 1 authorized the construction of a dam and dike across 
Green Harbor river for the purpose of 'improving the Green 
Harbor Marsh in the town of Marshfield and for other pur- 
poses.' Following the building of the dam and dike came 
certain changes in the small harbor at the mouth of the 
river. The effect of these changes was a serious one for 
the fishermen of the village, causing much contention." 

"It is undoubtedly true that this small harbor has deteri- 



History of Marshiield. 193 

orated since the building of the dike, and we beheve that the 
dike is responsible for a portion of the mischief done, but, 
as will be seen by the brief statement of the history of this 
river, it is not clear that the harbor has been at any time 
safe from a calamity similar to that which befell it in the 
earlier years of the century. That such catastrophes in 
harbors of this character are not uncommon may be learned 
from the history of the North river, only a few miles dis- 
tant from this place." 

"The removal of the dike would not by any means restore 
a condition of things existing before the construction of this 
barrier. An amount of water far in excess of anything 
before known would tear through the light sands which 
form the margins of the harbor, and produce effects which 
cannot easily be measured, but which we have every reason 
to suppose would be disastrous." 

"The builders of the dike were sanguine in their expres- 
sions of belief in the value of the reclaimed marshes for 
agricultural purposes; but we find many residents of Green 
Harbor who have serious doubts as to the real value of these 
fields. Wt were fortunately able to draw to our assistance 
Edmund Hersey, Esq., of Hingham, whose wide experience 
and ample knowledge in the science and art of agriculture 
have made him a much valued authority in this department. 

From his report we make the following extracts : 

" Tn my investigation of the Marshfield Dike meadow, 
to estimate its value for agricultural purposes, it seems to 
me to be necessary to ascertain, as near as possible, what has 
been produced on that portion which has been under cultiva- 
tion the greatest number of years since the dam was built. 
Fortunately, for this information I do not have to depend on 
interested parties nor the statements of enthusiastic men. 
Soon after the dam was built, I was employed as editor of 
a prominent agricultural paper of New England. In this 
position it became my duty to thoroughly investigate every 



194 History of Marshileld. 

new enterprise which related to agriculture; and the Green 
Harbor dike meadows received a watchful attention. I 
have visited the premises many times while the crops were 
being harvested, and at other seasons of the year. When 
I consider the discouraging circumstances under which the 
owners of this land have had to work, I am surprised at the 
great success which has attended their labors, 

" 'As early as 1879, seven years after the dam was built. 
Dr. C. A. Gcessman, state chemist at the Agricultural Col- 
lege, A.mherst, in a report on the improvement of salt 
marshes in the town of Marshfield, referring to the dike 
meadow land at Green Harbor, he remarks : "Many people 
doubted in the outset the general adaptation of the reclaimed 
sea marshes for the production of English grass without 
previous application of top-dressing of some kind or other; 
yet time has proved otherwise. Those who have seen the 
grass on these meadows during the past season, or witnessed 
the carting away of the many loads of good English hay, 
have had all doubts regarding their productiveness, under 
even moderate chances, removed. The results thus far 
obtained have been more than many of the friends of the 
enterprise anticipated; and have convinced even the most 
skeptical, who are open to conviction, of the exceeding nat- 
ural richness of the soil, and its excellent adaptation for the 
cultivation of a variety of crops. Still greater results will 
be secured, no doubt, in future, providing the improvements 
are allowed to be developed unchecked by adverse judicial 
decision." 

" 'While visiting the Marshfield meadows on April 19, 
1897, I found asparagus already up, very nearly high enough 
to cut. I was surprised at this, because my own asparagus 
had but just appeared above the surface of the ground, al- 
though grov/ing on land so warm that I am usually the first 
to ship native asparagus to Boston markets. I was also 
surprised at the size of the stalks, they being much larger 



History of MarshHdd. 195 

than the first set of stalks which appear on my land. When 
I consider the fact that the land on which this asparagus was 
growing has produced large crops every year for twenty 
years, without fertilizers of any kind, and still produces bet- 
ter crops than my land, which has had six hundred dollars' 
worth of fertilizers to the acre applied to it during the last 
twenty years, it convinces me that this land, for garden pur- 
poses, surpasses any which I have ever examined. I no- 
ticed on the meadow, strawberry plants which had passed 
through the winter uninjured and were looking well; thus 
indicating that the strawberry will grow well on this land, 
after the top soil becomes well decomposed. 

" 'On the third of July the meadows were visited to ex- 
amine the hay which was then being harvested; it not being 
a good hay day, a very large proportion of the hay was 
raked in heaps, thus affording an excellent opportunity to 
judge of the amount produced on various parts of the 
meadow. While some portions of the land on which the 
hay was raked into heaps would, in my opinion, not produce 
quite two tons to the acre, a considerable portion of it would, 
I have no doubt, produce more than two tons to the acre, 
and some of it at least two and one-half tons per acre; and 
I think I may be safe in saying that the average would be 
two tons per acre. A number of years ago, while visiting 
these meadows, I saw one field of seventy acres that was 
being harvested; some of it was spread over the ground as 
left by the mower, but most of it was raked in windrows 
and heaps, ready to be loaded on wagons. This I estimated 
would produce an average of two tons to the acre. I was 
subsequently informed that seventy acres produced one hun- 
dred and fifty tons. 

" 'When we consider that this was produced on land that 
had never had its natural richness increased by the applica- 
tion of any fertiHzers, we realize, in a measure, the great 
value of the material which nature has for the ages been 



196 History of MarshHeld. 

storing up for man's future use, if he be wise enough to avail 
himself of it. As some persons have expressed doubts as 
to the good qualities of this hay, and others have stated that 
neither cows nor horses will eat it, I purchased some of last 
season's growth, to test it by the side of hay grown on my 
own farm, my horses to be the judges. My hay was what 
I have been selling for first quality, composed of redtop and 
timothy. 

" 'The test was made in this way : I took about a half 
pound of the Marshfield hay in one hand, and the same quan- 
tity of my hay in the other, holding each bundle so that they 
would be of equal distance from the mouth of the horse; he 
first took a small quantity of my hay, but immediately turned 
to the Marshfield hay, and took from it a mouthful; and 
after this, although I put my hay in front of it, he would, 
every time, smell of mine, and then reach over and take a 
mouthful of the Marshfield hay; this he followed until he 
had eaten all of the Marshfield hay. The same test was 
made before the second horse, and was attended with the 
same result. 

" 'While visiting the meadows on Sept. 22, I examined 
the crops of cranberries, Indian corn, and onions. Several 
cranberry bogs were visited, from which the fruit was being 
gathered. The present year not being as favorable as last 
year for the growth of this fruit, I did not find the crop so 
large. One of the growers estimated that he should get 
one hundred barrels per acre, but in my judgment, formed 
after forty years' experience in the business, I should say 
seventy-five barrels would be nearer right, but, even if there 
be only fifty barrels to the acre, this would secure a net profit 
of one hundred and fifty dollars to the acre, if sold at the 
price which I am selling my berries for today. The lower 
levels of this land, if not high enough to be readily drained 
for small fruits, grain, and vegetables, I have no doubt can 
be profitably used for the growth of the cranberry. 



History of Marshfield. 197 

" 'The season being unfavorable, the corn crop was not 
large, but from what I saw I should think it would yield 
fifty bushels to the acre. The onions were rather above an 
average crop grown by market gardeners who use large 
quantities of fertilizer. Both of these crops were grown 
without the application of any kind of fertilizers, and on 
land that for more than twenty years has produced large 
crops of hay, grain, and vegetables; and yet, to all appear- 
ances, the soil is in the best condition for the production of 
large crops of small fruits and garden vegetables. 

" 'The several close examinations which at different times 
I have made of that part of the meadow which has been 
thoroughly drained and cropped from ten to twenty years 
or more, led to the belief that the mechanical condition of 
the soil is better adapted to the growth of garden fruits and 
vegetables than any land I have ever examined; and that 
it retains its richness to a wonderful degree, is proved by 
recent analysis of the soil, as well as by the large crops it 
produces without the aid of fertilizers. 

" 'An examination of the dam shows that, when an effort 
was made to destroy it, the injury was such that it has 
never been made tight, but at every tide a large quantity of 
sea water finds its way through the injured part. It is evi- 
dent to me that, if the owners of the land could be assured 
that the dam would be permitted to remain unmolested by- 
legal tribunals, and individuals who pay no respect to law, 
it would be but a short tim.e before the sea-water would be 
shut out, and the whole meadow drained in a systematic 
way. When this is done, it would be but a short time 
before not only the salt from the surface of the lowest levels 
would be washed out, but the subsoil of the whole meadow 
would be freshened sufficient to increase the large crops 
which are now grown on the improved portions, and the 
whole territory so improved that it would produce as large 
crops as the best of it now produces. This being evident, 



19S History of MarshHeld. 

justice demands that my estimate of the agricultural value 
of this land should be based on what would be its condition 
if the dam had been uninjured, and the owners had pos- 
sessed full confidence that whatever improvements they 
might make would not be interfered with, either legally or 
illegally. 

" 'The careless observer, who knows nothing of the his- 
tory of the opposition and the discouragements which the 
owners of this land have met with in their efforts to make 
improvements, might, and undoubtedly would, come to the 
conclusion that the portion of the meadow which has not 
been improved is of but little value; but those who thor- 
oughly investigate the whole subject, and make themselves 
familiar with its complete history, fully realize that the 
whole territory can be easily changed to a condition to in- 
sure large crops of small fruits, garden vegetables, or the 
best quality of hay; and, what is most surprising to those 
who grow these on higher levels, they have been grown, and 
will continue to be grown, without fertilizers. If I am to 
estimate the true value of this land, I am quite sure that I 
must consider the fact that for twenty or more years it has 
produced large crops without the application of manure or 
fertilizers of any kind, and that the soil shows no evidence 
of losing its fertility for many years yet to come; although 
to do so I am aware that it will bring its value up to a sum 
that will seem unreasonable to those who do not give the 
subject careful, intelligent thought, or who have not had 
experience in buying large quantities of fertilizers to keep 
up the fertility of a market-gardener's farm.' 

" T have the evidence that one measured acre has pro- 
duced 6,800 pounds of hay in a season, and another acre 34 
bushels of rye and 5454 pounds of straw. The lower levels 
of the meadow are admirably adapted to the growth of the 
cranberry; so well that when grown by those who under- 
stand the business it will pay quite as well as any other crop 



History of MarshHeld. 199 

which can be grown on the higher levels; thus the whole 
1400 acres can be utilized for various crops at a large 
profit.' " 

The commissioners say : "In allowing the tide waters to 
flow in over this area by the removal of the dam, this low- 
ered area (dike lands) would be covered by salt water for 
so long a period over every tide that vegetation would be 
destroyed, and the area, as land, would be changed into 
mud flats, and become practically valueless. We are in- 
formed that about 103 1 acres of this marsh area is ap- 
prised, for the purposes of taxation, at $22,335, ^ low esti- 
mate." 

"The mouth of Green Harbor empties into Massachusetts 
Bay in a general southeasterly direction. On the north- 
east it is protected by a point of rocks. The movement of 
the shore current, which bears along the drift, is from the 
south, and this has a tendency to close the river mouth. 
The dash of the waves in heavy, especially in southeasterly 
storms, brings more or less sand into the harbor. From 
the northeasterly storms the rocky promontory affords the 
harbor adequate protection. The material which has filled 
up the harbor has probably come in from the outside, from 
the south and southeast. The ebb current from Green 
Harbor proper has not been strong enough to preserve a 
channel of sufficient depth at low tide to answer the re- 
quirements of the vessels which anchor there. Under 
present conditions there is no reason to look forward to any 
improvement in the depth of the interior basin or the chan- 
nel. Any change is more likely to result in gradual shoal- 
ing. 

"A plan for improving this condition has been developed 
which, it is believed, will successfully preserve the useful- 
ness of the harbor and increase its depth of water, both at 
the entrance, where a depth of from thirty inches to four 
feet at mean low water is desired, and in the harbor above. 



200 History of Marshfield. 

where the boats He at their moorings. This plan is to 
dredge an anchorage basin with a channel thereto, and to 
build two jetties and a training wall." [The jetties spoken 
of have already been mentioned in the early part of the ac- 
count of the dike.] 
Green Harbor — Green Harbor River, and the Salt Marshes, 

"The lower portion of Green Harbor river was at one 
time a tidal stream, meandering through extensive salt 
marshes, which bordered the stream for a distance of about 
six miles from its mouth, and it received also the flow of a 
small water shed, the total drainage, area above its mouth, 
being about seven and five-tenths square miles. There are 
numerous summer cottages and a small fishing village along 
the shores of the ocean and harbor in the vicinity of the 
outlet, but the remainder of the water shed contains no vil- 
lages. The upland portions are inhabited by a scattered 
farming population, and much of the territory is wooded. 

'The marshes through which the river flowed lie just 
back of the sea-coast line, and extend from the vicinity of 
the mouth of the river for a distance of two and a half miles 
in a northwesterly direction. Their inland limits are gen- 
erally from one and a half to two miles from the coast line, 
though a comparatively narrow strip along the river extends 
further inland. They are separated from the ocean by a 
barrier consisting of two acres of upland, and known as 
Branch's and Hewitt's Islands, and by sand and shingle 
between the islands and north and south of them." 

"In making the surveys of the meadows above the dike, 
it was found that they had settled materially after reclaim- 
ation of the surface of the meadows just above the dike, 
being two feet or more lower than that of the unreclaimed 
salt marshes below the dike, which were found to be gen- 
erally at or near the level of mean high tide." 
The Construction of the Dike. 

"The dike, as alreadv stated, is located a little over two- 



History of Marshileld. 201 

thirds of a mile from the mouth of Green Harbor, at a place 
where the upland approaches the river on both sides. The 
total length of the dike is about 1600 feet, and its top is 
nearly level and is at about grade 14.6 above mean low 
water, the lowest depression being at grade 13.1, and the 
highest place at grade 15.2. The bottom of the river in this 
vicinity is about six feet below mean tide, and the river has 
a width of about 500 feet. The dike has an average width 
at the top of about 22 feet, and forms the roadway connect- 
ing the villages of Green Harbor and Brant Rock. It is 
said that originally its width was much less, but that it was 
widened by the construction of the road in 1879. 

"From such information as has been obtained as to the 
construction of the dike, it appears that sheet piling was 
driven in a line across the river, and that the piling was 
surrounded by a filling of stones and gravel. It appears 
also that during construction the tide passed through a 
flume which was subsequently closed by stop planks, and the 
whole covered with stone and gravel filling. Two sluices 
were laid through the dike, each four feet high and three 
and a half feet wide inside, and having the bottom at the 
upper end at about grade 1.61 and the lower end at about 
grade 1.56 above mean low water. The capacity of the 
sluices is, however, reduced by upright timbers four inches 
thick, placed at intervals of about four feet along the inner 
sides. 

"At the outer end of each of the sluices are tide gates, 
which are closed automatically by the tide when it rises 
above the level of the water inside the dike, and are de- 
signed to keep salt water from passing through the sluices 
from the harbor to the river above the dike. In addition 
to the tide gates at the outer end, there is also a tide gate 
in each flume not far from its inner end, apparently intro- 
duced subsequently to the construction of the dike, to assist 
in keeping out water from the harbor when the tide is higher 

Marshfield xiv 



202 History of MarshHeld. 

than the level of the water inside the dike. At the end of 
each of the sluices, on the inner side of the dike, is a sluice 
gate, designed to control the level of the water in the river 
above the dike. 

■'It appears to be the practice to leave these sluice-gates 
partially open at all times, and to raise or lower them only 
at infrequent intervals, whenever it is desired to raise or 
lower the water in the river above the dike." 

"The water above the dike in the summer season, in an 
ordinary year, may be kept down to a level about 0.3 of a 
foot above the average of low water just outside the dike, 
the level of low water in this portion of the harbor being 
found to average about 3.5 feet above mean low water at the 
outlet of the harbor." 

"The main drain of the meadows is the Green Harbor 
river, which drains an area above the dike of about 6.9 
square miles, as measured by the state map." 

"The sharp contrast between the elevation of the marshes 
just below the dike and that of the meadows just above it, 
leaves no doubt of the subsidence in the level of the mead- 
ows in this vicinity. The soil, both of the salt marshes 
and of the meadows above the dike, contains a large amount 
of small roots and fibre." 

"The shrinkage in the meadows appears to be due to the 
draining of the water out of them and the subsequent de- 
composition of the roots and fibres of the soil, which allowed 
the soil to become more compact, and it is very probable that 
practically all of the shrinkage has occurred above the pres- 
ent water level in the river and creeks." Dr. Stephen Henry 
and Geo. AI. Baker have been the leading spirits in the con- 
struction and perpetuation of the Dike. 

There is at this time, in the year 1900, quite a large vil- 
lage at Green Harbor, also known as Cut River, occupied 
by permanent residents and non-residents. It is quite a 
seashore resort and is supported largely by summer board- 
ers, boating and fishing. The Webster House is the largest 
hotel there. In the summer season it is quite a lively place 
and is visited by many tourists, as well as the neighboring 
and larger village of Brant Rock. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

Brant Rock. 

This sketch of Brant Rock I obtained from T. B. Black- 
man, Esq., one of the earliest permanent residents of the 
Rock. I will give it in his own words, as follows : 

"I have known Brant Rock for sixty years. In those days 
there was not much to attract people to these shores but the 
sea fowl in the fall of the year, which then were very abun- 
dant. My father visited Brant Rock even before I knew 
the place; I could not have been more than six years of age. 
He came down gunning, Ins gun burst in his hands, and his 
lower arm was blown to pieces, which laid him up for a long 
time. It was a great treat in my boyhood days to come 
to the shore and get lobsters from under the rocks with a 
gaff hook. I gathered strawberries from the pastures, 
which in those days were plenty. 

"I do not remember of any house in early days at Brant 
Rock proper, westerly of the Rock. There was a house 
located up the beach north from what is now called Ocean 
Bluff; this was known as the Charity House, in which was 
kept a stove, a little wood and a few matches. It was pro- 
vided and equipped by the Massachusetts Humane Society 
for the mariner when driven upon the beach by storms. 

"In those days the grass growing on this beach was a 
source of litigation, many thinking they had a right to let 
their cattle feed upon it, while others thought this grass a 
strong protection to the beaches and should not be fed^ It 
hazarded all that property westerly of the beach, and finally 
an ordinance or law was passed, prohibiting the feedmg of 
the grasses, and in my opinion it was a wise provision and 
should have continued for all time. These uplands, to- 

203 



204 History of Marshiield. 

gether with the beach at Brant Rock, were in early days 
known as Spectacle Island, the upper island forming one 
eye, the lower island the other. The strip of beach at 
Brant Rock [the nose piece, or bridge] at this date was but 
a cartway leading from Marshfield Neck through the beach 
and across the two islands to the easterly side of Green Har- 
bor river. 

"The house in which I now live was built in the year 1835 ; 
there was a house on the upper island at this time, but when 
built is not known; this house was burned in 1835 or 1836. 
Three houses have been burned on that island. When I 
came here, in 1856, there was but a cartway, with four gates 
to open to reach my place. There had been some little im- 
provement made in the way at the north end, the slough had 
been filled with stone, and a bridge was constructed, but 
across the beach it was mud and sand. I have crossed this 
beach when I could not go more than the length of my team 
at a pull. 

"In 1845 there was a house built at Brant Rock by Samuel 
Turner of Hanover, Mr. Tribou of Hanson, and a Mr. Jor- 
dan; this was known as a gun house, owned by these men. 
There was a house also at the north end of what is now 
known as Ocean Bluff, built by Africa Keene of South 
Abington. Below and westerly of my house, near Green 
Harbor river, four small houses were built in 1848 on land 
of Gideon Harlow. These houses were occupied in the 
summer by lobster fishermen, viz. : Henry Crossley, Gher- 
sham Sampson, George Sampson, Frank Washburn, and 
others. In 1853 another house was built by Anselm Robin- 
son of Bridgewater, who at that time took a lease of the land 
and later purchased the same of the heirs of Gideon Harlow. 

"In 1861, the first year of the Civil war, the Pioneer Cot- 
tage was built by Capt. George Churchill, Charles Brown, 
Edwin Reed, and others, of Boston. They took a lease of 
the land for five years, but bought it before their lease ex- 



History of Marshiield. 205 

pired. In 1866 the Churchill Hotel was built and run by 
George Churchill. Then followed the building of the 
Wrightman Cottage, the Pierce (south from the hotel), 
also the Rowland & Jones and the George Hatch cottages, 
the last two being north from the Pioneer. They were 
built by Samuel Turner. Mr. Walter Peterson built in 
1870 or 1 87 1. 

'The Brant Rock House was built in 1874 and was run 
by Henry T. Welch of Cambridgeport. S. B. Richmond 
of Lynn built in 1874. Ocean House, by Paine & Bonney, 
was built about 1875. Gilman Stetson of South Hanover 
built the same year. Fair- View House was built by Mar- 
tin Swift of Bridgewater about 1877. There were many 
houses built in 1875 and 1876. I have mentioned but few 
of them. 

A lumber yard was established in the fall of 1870 by T. 
B, Blackman. The lumber was brought from Maine and 
the West. This made good business till the shoaling of the 
river, caused by building the dike. Sales of lumber in 
1875 amounted to more than $5000, and would have become 
a fine business but for the shoaling of the harbor and river. 

"Mr. Edwin Reed built in the year 1881. Charles 
Sprague built in 1876, and George Thomas in 1878. The 
highway from the First Congregational church in Marsh- 
field to the Beach was laid out in 1692. From Waterman's 
Causeway to the land of Thomas Liversidge, a road was 
built in 1862. From this point through Brant Rock village 
to the Pioneer Cottage the road was laid out in 1867. The 
Dike road was built in 1879. From the Pioneer Cottage 
over Ocean avenue to a point near the house of T. B. Black- 
man, a road was laid out in 1890." 



CHAPTER L. 
Ventress Memorial Gift. 

Mr. Seth Ventress, a native of Marshfield, Mass., a bach- 
elor, and the founder of Ventress Memorial Building, pur- 
sued the occupation of a mason most of his life, and accu- 
mulated quite a small fortune in that business in the city of 
Boston. He left by his will at his decease the sum of ten 
thousand dollars to the town of Marshfield near the close 
of the 19th century, the sum to remain in trust until the 
interest thereon amounted to $2000, at which time the prin- 
cipal, $10,000, was to be spent in erecting a suitable building 
for the town's use, which was to include suitable rooms for 
a Free Public Library, and the accumulated $2000 interest 
to be spent in the purchase of books for the library. 

In about five years after the amount of the bequest was 
put to interest, the building was erected on its present site, 
near the Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society 
grounds, on land purchased of Franklin W. Hatch. It is 
a wooden structure, modern in style, and finished within to 
suit the wants and needs of the town. Well equipped 
library rooms are arranged on the first floor; the upper floor 
was finished for a Town Hall and furnished with seats. 
The town officers' rooms are on the first floor. A High 
school room capable of seating forty or more was finished 
and is occupied by the High school. 

In the basement there is a "Lock-up," so called, two cells, 
made of brick, with iron grating doors, for the safe, tem- 
porary keeping of criminals. A large brick vault was also 
built for the preservation of the town's funds and valuable 
documents. A short time after the building was erected, 
the town, at a town meeting, voted to move from the old 

206 



History of Marsh field. 207 

Town House into the new hall in the Ventress Memorial 
Building, and has since held its town meetings and elections 
in this hall, now called the Town Hall. 

The school committee serve as trustees of the library, and 
have sole charge of its management. It now contains 

some 3000 volumes. The town voted to send by express 
to all the postoffices in town books from the library once a 
week to patrons demanding them, free of charge. The 
town appropriates annually about $300 for its support, a 
part of which is devoted for the purchase of books. The 
library is open two days each week. Its first librarian was 
Miss Rosa M. Sprague (now Mrs. Ames). The present 
officer is Joshua Baker. 

The old Town Hall, which was used the larger part of the 
last century for town meetings, elections and caucuses, was 
abandoned and sold at public auction to Luther White for 
a small sum, and moved down to the Ferry and converted 
into a stable. Here was where the soldiers were recruited 
for the Civil war, and here was where the Hon. Daniel Web- 
ster came to meet his townsmen year after year and cast his 
vote as a citizen of Marshfield. It was here, when the Hon. 
Edward Little (a Quaker, and many years town clerk) said 
to Webster, when some disputed question in the meeting 
arose, and a motion was made to divide the house, the per- 
sons voting yea to stand on one side of the house, and those 
voting nay to stand on the other side, Webster, undecided 
on which side to turn, stood in the middle of the floor, when 
Little (having in mind his uncertain attitude in the Senate 
at that time in his feelings towards the South) called out 
to him, "Friend Webster, thee has been standing on the 
fence long enough; turn to one side or the other." It 
created a storm of applause, and Webster, good naturedly, 
took his position on the side of his choice. 



CHAPTER LI. 

Daniel Webster. 

One of the most prominent men who can be claimed as 
a citizen of Marshfield is the late Hon. Daniel Webster. 
There are many, undoubtedly, who would place him as the 
most prominent man; we do not. Edward Winslow, one 
of the three most able men in the old Plymouth Colony, and 
Governor of the Colony, a man in whose ability and integ- 
rity the great ruler of England, Oliver Cromwell, placed so 
much confidence, the father and founder of Marshfield, was 
perhaps as great a man in his day as Webster, but in a dif- 
ferent sense. Winslow was the builder of a nation; Web- 
ster was the preserver of a nation. The former was one 
of a trio who gave life and being to the march of civilization 
in the incipient stages of our country's development, while 
the other was the defender and protector of the Union of 
States, formed in the days of the Revolution for self de- 
fence. 

Nor were Webster or the elder Winslow the only prom- 
inent citizens of Marshfield. Josiah Winslow, the first 
native Governor in New England and America,' and the 
first commander-in-chief of the New England forces, was 
their equal in his day. As commander-in-chief of the New 
England forces during King Philips' Indian war in 1676, 
he was acknowledged as the preserver of the Colonies in 
that dark period of its early and terrible struggles for a foot- 
hold on this continent. He was a scholar and a man of 
suflficient brain power to cope with any emergency. Others 
were prominent, very prominent, but these three distin- 
guished names place Marshfield in the front rank of the 
historic towns of New England, and we hardly know in 
what order to place the renowned three. 

208 



History of Marshileld. 209 

E. M. Bacon says : "Webster, a born farmer and true 
lover of nature, was drawn to Marshfield for a country home 
by the rural beauty of its situation, and to this particular part 
through agreeable visits which he made to it when the 
Thomases resided there. Capt. John Thomas's family were 
then living in the old mansion house. His first purchase 
here was made about the year 1827, (after the death of 
Capt. Thomas) of the old house, with that portion of the 
landed estate possessed by the tory Nathaniel Ray Thomas, 
before the revolution, which was reserved unconfiscated at 
the close of the war as a dower for his widow. To his origi- 
nal purchase Webster subsequently made repeated additions 
till his domain extended over two thousand acres, including 
that portion of the ancient Careswell estate, which embraced 
Gov. Winslow's home lot. [This estate included a part of 
what is known as Cut River and Brant Rock.] He stocked 
it with blooded cattle, herds of sheep and fine horses. He 
had large collections of Chinese poultry, guinea hens, and 
other fowl. Gay peacocks strutted over the lawn, which 
swept away from his Mansion house, and among his live 
stock were some curious llamas. He embellished the ex- 
tensive grounds with a multitudinous array of trees of many 
varieties; a hundred thousand of them grown from seeds of 
his own planting. The original Mansion house (of Capt. 
Thomas) was more than doubled, and with its numerous 
gables showing above the trees, suggested when approached 
in the distance, the famous 'Abbotsford.' Beside the Man- 
sion house and its outbuildings, there were on the estate the 
farmer's house, the dairy man's cottage, the fisherman's 
house and other buildings, including the statesman's private 
ofiice, now standing." 

This old mansion was burned about two decades after the 
decease of Webster, and the erection of the present one, on 
the same site, followed soon after. It was occupied by 
Mrs. Fletcher Webster and family, daughter-in-law 



2IO History of MarshHeld. 

of the statesman. It was here, while occupied 
by Mrs. Webster, that the President of the United States, 
President Arthur, at the Centennial of Webster's birth in 
1883, visited the spot and was heartily welcomed by thou- 
sands of people assembled to do him and the dead Webster 
honor. Some time after this event the estate was sold to 
Mr. Walton Hall, a native of Marshfield Hills, and a whole- 
sale merchant in Boston. Mr. Hall and family are still its 
occupants. Webster's original estate, after his decease, was 
parcelled and sold at different times, until the large estate 
was reduced to two or three hundred acres at the time of 
Mr. Hall's purchase. Since that period he has bought sev- 
eral estates around him, and has regained some eight hun- 
dred or a thousand acres. 

An extensive apple orchard of thirteen acres, planted by 
Webster a half a century or more ago, is still standing, and 
bearing heavy crops of apples. 

Mr. Webster's foreman, C. Porter Wright, and Chas. Pet- 
erson (his boy) who attended his gunning and fishing 
rambles, are still living. It is said of him while on one of 
his gunning sports, over the marshes of Marshfield, not far 
from his house, he was accosted by a couple of tourists from 
Boston, who were attempting to cross a small flooded 
stream ; they could not jump it, and espying an old man not 
far away, yelled to him to come and carry them over. The 
old man responded, and having on a pair of high, rubber 
bunting boots, took one upon his back and carried him across 
and then the other. They then asked him if he could show 
them the way to Webster's. "Why, yes," said he, "I am 
going there, come with me. You are addressing Mr. Web- 
ster." Amazed at this announcement, they felt like skulk- 
ing away, but soon plucked up courage and followed the 
statesman to his home, where they were warmly welcomed. 

At Marshfield Hills there is what is known as Walker's 
Pond, formerly a mill was close to it. A Mr. Walker owned 



History of MarshHeld. 211 

and ran it. Webster liked to come to the pond to fish for 
trout. One morning on arrival, he noticed that the mill was 
not running, and asked a boy standing near, why it was not. 
^'Father," the boy replied, "hurt his leg badly this morning, 
and can't run the mill." Webster pulled out his wallet and 
emptied the entire contents, (some $20.00), gave it to the 
boy, and told him to run and give it to his father. 



CHAPTER LII. 

The New Mouth of North River. 

Nov. 27th, 1898, will long be remembered as the severest 
storm known among the oldest inhabitants during the cen- 
tury. It was unquestionably a tidal wave that cut a hole 
through the beach, between the Third and Fourth Cliffs. The 
cut was made directly opposite the angle in the North River, 
which opened a new m.outh to the river and caused it to run 
straight to the sea. At the time the storm (snow storm) 
was raging, there were some gunners in gunning shanties on 
the islands in the river. Some of the gunners had antici- 
pated the storm the night before and left their domiciles for 
their homes; but four young men remained until the follow- 
ing day, and the cut was made so suddenly — the ocean pour- 
ing in the river in torrents — these four young men attempted 
to escape in a small row boat, but the fury of the storm and 
the flood was too severe for them, their boat capsized and 
they drifted to an island, but everything was soon submerged 
and they were all drowned. Their names were Geo. Ford 
of Marshfield Hills, and Mr. Tilden and two Henderson 
boys of Norwell. The old mouth is some three or four 
miles below the new mouth. The course of the river before 
the storm ran easterly, as it approached the inner side of the 
beach, and when it reached the bar it turned at right angles 
and flowed southerly, inside the bar and cliffs, down to what 
is known as Beetle's rocks to the sea. The old mouth, with- 
in the memory of citizens now living, has shifted from time 
to time, at one time southerly from its present outlet 
and then northerly, so that the mouth during the past century 
had varied in its course from a half mile to a mile. When 
the new mouth was made by the great storm a little distance 

212 



History of Marshfield. 213 

from the northerly end of the fourth CHff, the old mouth be- 
gan to partially fill up, and is now, in 1901, so filled up that 
teams can pass over it. It is a part of the beach, and con- 
tinuous. The South River, which has always, as far as 
known, emptied its waters into the sea at the old mouth of 
the North River, now flows down to the new mouth. 

When the new mouth was made, the current of the river 
flowing to the old mouth was largely changed, and took an 
opposite, or northerly direction, running to the new mouth 
and out to the ocean. The river as it approaches the new 
mouth is nearly a mile wide. At first the opening of the 
mouth was some 200 feet wide, and about ten feet deep. It 
has since widened, and is now some three or four hundred 
feet wide; at low tide about fourteen or sixteen feet deep. 
The current is very strong and rapid. 

About a year ago, a steam tug attached to a large barge 
loaded with lumber, passed through it, and sailed down to 
Humarock bridge. The vessel unloaded and returned 

through the new mouth to the sea. The northerly end of 
Fourth Cliff is washing away rapidly, and it is claimed that 
an acre of the cliff has worn away since the opening of the 
new mouth. The beach between said Clifif and the cut is 
at every high tide washed over by the surf of the sea, and un- 
doubtedly in time this bar will be washed away and the 
mouth widened and extended to the Fourth Cliff. 

The meadow bank inside the bar is very hard and tough, 
hence difficult for the tide to wear it away; but it is never- 
theless cutting it, and every year it can be seen that the 
navigable space is widening, so that in time, it is hoped, a 
large bay or harbor will be formed inside to enable yachts 
to anchor there. 

Application was made the present year, by the author, to 
get an appropriation from Congress in the River and Harbor 
bill for a sum to investigate the feasibility of dredging inside 
the new mouth, which it is claimed by seafaring men, will 



214 History of MarshHeld. 

make one of the best harbors of refuge between Boston and 
Provincetown, but owing to the failure of the passage of the 
River and Harbor bill by Congress, we will have to wait. 

The new mouth enabling the tide from the ocean to flow 
directly upon our salt marshes, (some 5,000 acres) has 
caused a great loss to our farmers, by the flooding of the 
meadows and killing the grasses. Before the opening of 
the new mouth our farmers gathered large crops of Salt 
hay and Black grass, which carried their cattle through the 
winter moderately well, and horses were partly fed by farm- 
ers with Salt hay. It has been observed, however, that 
Prickear — the Salt hay of the marsh — is coming in gradual- 
ly, so that the salt meadows in summer begin to show a green 
covering, but a difficulty arises in getting it, while before it 
could remain on the marsh after cut a week or fortnight be- 
tween the semi-monthly tide; now it must be removed be- 
tween the daily tides, to escape the daily flood covering the 
marsh. The great storm, after the cut was made, washed 
away the railroad, passing over the marshes, but the track 
was soon replaced; it is feared, however, in time, it will 
again feel the effects of a very severe storm, although the 
road has been built higher and is considered much safer. 
The storm, after the new mouth opened, washed away the 
causeway between Scituate and Marshfield, approaching Lit- 
tle's bridge, some two miles from the cut. It has since been 
repaired and raised a number of feet, and is now considered 
safe, although a very high tide, with an easterly storm, 
washes over it at times. All along the course of the river 
by Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke and Hanover, the greatly 
increased tide since the opening, is daily felt. 

Clam beds have been formed since the cut was made, on 
flats near there, and although at present the clams are small, 
many are dug and carried away. 

Marshfield obtained from the Legislature in 1900, an ap- 
propriation of $20,000 to repair the damage along its coasts 



History of Mar shfleld. 215 

by the great storm. Brant Rock was damaged most, and 
received one half the appropriation. Many of the buildings 
there were injured, and roads were badly damaged. The 
severity of the storm was so great that the inhabitants at this 
beach were fearful of the safety of their lives. Some fled 
to the Life Saving Station, and here the storm forced the 
stout doors open, and stones were thrown across the floor 
with terrific force, the inmates were obliged to flee up stairs; 
the meeting houses also were resorted to as a place of refuge. 
No lives were lost on the beach. 

From the $20,000 appropriation, which was put into the 
hands of the County Commissioners, a portion was reserved 
to build a new bridge, where Little's Bridge is now located, 
Marshfield portion being one half, and Scituate the other 
half. A year or more ago a bridge was built in place of the 
old Union Bridge over North River between Marshfield and 
Norwell, the expense being divided between the two towns. 
It is a steel bridge, with a draw in the middle. 

There is not as much fishing in the river, as there was 
years ago. Herring is the principal species running from 
Marshfield up to Hanover. These are caught in the spring, 
principally by seines, which are stretched into the river, a 
number of rods, in different places, along the several border 
towns, and are caught by thousands, salted, partially dried, 
and sold by peddlers through the county. Shad, years ago, 
were caught in these seines along with herring, but they are 
now scarce. Perch are caught in fair quantities. In win- 
ter eels are speared to a considerable extent. Holes are 
made in the ice, and long poles that will sink deep in the river 
with small nets attached to catch them. A small sail against 
the wind is put up near the hole, and the fishermen stand in 
sheltered spots and catch their fish. They often fish at 
night, using lanterns to guide themselves. 

A dozen or more years ago a law, or regulation, was passed 
forbidding seining for herring for five years, to enable the 



2i6 History of Marshfield. 

Fish Commissioner to stock the river with salmon. The 
experiment was faithfully tried for the full term, but was a 
total failure, for I have never heard of any salmon worth 
mentioning being caught in the river. 

It was somewhere about the year, 1843, that an effort was 
made to have the U. S. Government cut a hole through the 
beach, near the present new mouth, between the Third and 
Fourth Cliff, and Ex-President John Quincy Adams, then 
Representative to Congress, was induced to ride down to 
Marshfield and visit the spot where the new cut was desired. 
But after a hearing from the citizens pro and con, the au- 
thorities thought it not feasible, chiefly on account of the 
injury it was claimed would be caused to the meadows near 
the upland and islands by overflow or strong tides. But 
nothing daunted a large party gathered together, and with 
picks, hoes, shovels, axes, etc., etc., with plenty of ox teams 
and horse teams to convey them, marched in the darkness of 
the night, with lanterns in hand to the beach, and there they 
began operations, dug and toiled throughout the vigils of the 
night. They dared not undertake the task in the day time, 
because it would be a criminal offense to be caught infring- 
ing against the rights of property vested in the United 
States. 

Morning came and the party journeyed back to their 
homes, not, however, until they had partially, if not wholly, 
accomplished their purpose in getting a cut or hole through 
the beach from the river to the sea, but the great obstacle to- 
wards the complete accomplishment of their purpose, was 
the hard meadow bank, nearly as hard as rock, underlying 
the sandy and muddy upper strata of the river bed. 

The river flowed partially through the cut, but in a short 
time it filled up again, and thus all the labors of these River 
Patriots were in vain, but it is the opinion of the author that 
the filling in was never again as solid and compact as before 
the cut was made, and probably the force of the sea in the 



History of MarshHeld. 217 

great storm of 1898 found it easier to force a hole or cut 
through the beach than would have been the case before the 
artificial cut was made a half a century or more ago, for it 
is the general opinion of those citizens now living, and mid- 
night partakers in the artificial cut of 1843, that it is in the 
same spot as now occupied by the new mouth. It is also the 
opinion of the author, and advanced by him years before the 
cut was made by the great storm, that the river, centuries 
ago, flowed directly to the sea, as at present, instead of turn- 
ing at right angles and flowing for three or four miles in- 
side of the cliffs, which he thinks is proven by the course it 
now takes. 

When the midnight cutaways were stealing their march 
to the sea to cut a hole, they stopped at the house of Ed. 
Little (a Quaker) on the way, and asked him if they could 
take his yoke of oxen to work on the cut, he replied, "No !" 
but I'll tell thee where thee can find the yoke," and they were 
not long in finding it and the oxen. 

The desire was so great in the last century to have a hole 
cut through the beach, that they could not rest until they 
made another attempt, and it is not to be wondered why this 
desire was so strong, for there is but a narrow strip of land 
which might be called a bar between the river and the ocean, 
only a few rods wide, and it was thought it would be such a 
help to navigation to sail straight from the river into the sea, 
and save miles sailing down the river through the old mouth; 
hence about 17 or 20 years after the first cut, another hole 
was made farther south, the southerly side of Fourth ClifT. 
Having gained permission of the powers that be, the citizens 
began it in the day time, and I am informed by those living 
here at the time and engaged in the enterprise, that it took 
two or three weeks to accomplish the task. Temporary suc- 
cess attended their efforts, and the River flowed directly to 
the sea through the new cut, but it was not long before the 
cut filled up with sand, the current not being strong enough 

Marshfield xv 



2i8 History of MarshHeld. 

to keep it clear, and so the second attempt brought no lasting 
results. It is now nearly three years since nature opened the 
new mouth, and it is continually growing wider and deepen 
It is undoubtedly open for all time. 



CHAPTER LIII. 
MarshHeld Hills. 

The name of Marshfield Hills was given and secured in 
place of East Marshfield by the author in the year, 1890. 

The officials of the railroad were induced to change the 
name of the station, and that of the post office was changed 
by the authorities in Washington. The reason for the 
change was because letters were frequently missent to East 
Mansfield, instead of East Marshfield, also packages and 
freight. Other names were proposed, one by the railroad 
authorities, "Rexham," another desired to call it "Prospect 
Heights," but it was argued with the railroad officials and 
our Congressman at Washington, that we did not want to 
lose the name of Marshfield, for the latter was identified 
with Webster and Winslow, and was known and recognized 
away from here as the home of those eminent men, Marsh- 
field Hills was accepted, and the name soon became a popu- 
lar one at the Hills and elsewhere. 

The "Hills" is a very appropriate one to our village, for 
extensive hills are numerous. There are very desirable sites 
for residences, as an extended view of the ocean is had from 
them, also of Cape Ann, and those seaport towns, Gloucester, 
Marblehead and others. 



219 



CHAPTER LIV. 

Railroad. 

The Duxbury and Cohasset railroad, a continuation of 
the South Shore railroad from Cohassett, was built 
about the year, 1868. It was built largely by the three 
towns through which it passes, Scituate, Marshfield and 
Duxbury, with some aid from the Old Colony Railroad Cor- 
poration, A great effort was made by the citizens of East 
Marshfield to have it run through the middle of the village, 
locating the station somewhere in the region of what is 
known as "Bear's Brook," by the road leading over it from 
Rodger's Corners to Sea View. Meetings were held to fa- 
vor this, but the railroad authorities opposed it, and it was 
located down at one end of the village, nearer the shore, as 
the purpose was to make it a shore road. It cost Marshfield 
about $75,000. One director was appointed from each 
town to represent them. Scituate was represented by 

Joseph Cole; Marshfield by the Hon. Nathaniel Whiting, and 
Duxbury by Stephen Gifford, these acted in conjunction 
with the Old Colony Railroad Directors. After a few years 
it was found the road was not paying its way, and an effort 
was made by the Old Colony road to buy each town's in- 
terest, and finally it was sold to the said road for $15,000 
by the three towns, making $5,000, only, for each, being an 
immense sacrifice on the cost. This left Marshfield with a 
debt of $70,000, and it has been groaning under this incubus 
for years, although it has been gradually decreasing, by an 
appropriation made yearly of from one to two thousand dol- 
lars by the town to a sinking fund, which it established 
shortly after the sale of the road. The Sinking Fund Com- 

220 



History of Marshiield. 22 1 

missioners turned over to the town in March, 1901, the total 
amount accumulated in their hands, which reduced the debt 
over $30,000, so that the debt stands at present about 
$35,000. 



CHAPTER LV. 
MarshHeld in its Corporate Capacity. 

The valuation of the town in 1900 was : 

Real estate, $1,223,435 

Personal estate, 105,810 



Total, $1,329,245 

Amount voted by the town in 1900 for the ensuing year's 
expenses was $23,000. 

Rate of taxation for 1900, $18.50 per thousand. In 
1 90 1, $14.00 per thousand. 

Number of inhabitants in 1900, 1810 

Number of voters registered, about 440 

Number of residents assessed on property as in- 
dividuals, 560 
All others, 84 
Number of non-residents assessed on property, most- 
ly at the beaches, 474 
Number of dwelling houses assessed, 921 
Number of acres of land assessed, 15.929 
Number of horses assessed, 458 
Number of cows assessed, 316 
Number of cattle other than cows assessed 93 
Number of swine assessed, 23 
Number of sheep assessed, 6 
Number of fowl assessed, 2,910 
Number of persons assessed, poll tax, 500 
Value of buildings, $811,745 
Value of land, 411,690 
The principal officers of the town are as follows : 
Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor: 



History of MarsMeld. 223 

Nathaniel Taylor, John H. Eames and Hartley L. Thomas. 

School Committee : Albert T. Sprague, Edgar L. Hitch- 
cock and Herbert T. Rodgers. 

Constables : Howard O. Damon and John Flavel. 

Tree Warden : John Flavel. 

School Superintendent : Edgar L. Willard. 

Town Treasurer and Town Clerk : Geo. H. Weatherbee. 

Auditor : William L. Sprague. 

Formerly Highway Surveyors were chosen at the annual 
Town Meeting for each of the fifteen districts, but for the 
past two years the Selectmen were delegated by the town to 
act in that capacity, and they appoint deputy surveyors. 

The annual town meeting is generally held on the first 
Monday of March. The population of Marshfield has in- 
creased but little in half a century. This is due in large 
measure to the going of young men and women on becoming 
of age, to the cities, where larger opportunities are open to 
them. Many have obtained a good education, the best that 
a common and a high school can furnish, and they are able 
to fill lucrative and responsible places that only persons of 
ability can supply. 

There are no manufactories in town to give employment 
to men and women. Tilling the soil is the chief occupation 
and boys in the present era have a dislike to this calling. 
There is, however, a large and increasing, floating popula- 
tion, non-residents, who live, during the warm season, at 
Brant Rock, Green Harbor, Abington Village and other sea- 
shore resorts in Marshfield, hence while there is but little in- 
crease of legal residents, there is a large increase of those who 
pay taxes, and a large increase of dwelling houses. There 
is a tendency now manifest in the purchasing and building 
of dwellings for summer residences by business men from 
the city. 



CHAPTER LVI. 

Cemeteries and Streets. 

The oldest cemetery in town is the old Winslow burying- 
ground, adjoining the Webster tomb in the South portion 
of the town. Here are buried the remains of some of the 
old Colonists. Mrs. Edward Winslow, wife of the gov- 
ernor, mother of Peregrine White, and mother of Governor 
Josiah Wmslow, lies buried here. Here also are the re- 
mains of Peregrine White, claimed as the first white child 
born in New England, and here the first native born Gov- 
ernor of New England, Josiah Winslow, lies buried, and 
other Colonists. The remains of the Thomases, who were 
noted Colonists in Pilgrim days, and the ancestors of emi- 
nent men living before and during the Revolution, lie in this 
cemetery. Here lie the remains of one of the sweetest and 
greatest singers America has had. Miss Adelaide Phillips. 

At the side of this holy ground is buried perhaps the 
greatest statesman America has produced, the eminent Dan- 
iel Webster, and his family, including his son, Major Ed- 
ward, who was killed in the war with Mexico, and his other 
son. Col. Fletcher, who was killed in the Battle of Bull Run, 
in the Civil war of 1861. Probably there is no cemetery in 
New England more ancient, save at Plymouth, and none 
that holds more distinguished dead in its enclosure than the 
Winslow burying ground, and yet it is comparatively little 
known. 

Then there is the cemetery at the southerly part of the 
town, adjoining the First Congregational church, near by 
the railroad station. Another is at Marshfield Hills, in the 
rear of the Unitarian church. A century or more ago, this 
church secured and laid out what was known as "God's 

224 



History of Marshfield. 225 

Acre," adjoining the site of the church, and they have con- 
trolled it ever since. Some stones date back to the i8th 
century, 1732. A superintendent of this cemetery is chosen 
by the church annually. East of this cemetery is another, 
adjoining- it, being southwesterly of the Orthodox church. 

At North Marshfield there is another cemetery which dates 
back a century or more. There is a small one at Center 
Marshfield. where the remains of Mr. Samuel Hall, a native 
of Marshfield, a noted shipbuilder, and the father-in-law of 
ex-Gov. Emery of Utah (now living at Sea View) lie 
buried with his wife. Another cemetery is at that part of the 
town called "Plainville," near the South Baptist church. 
There are said to be indications of a very ancient one on the 
hill at the rear of the residence of Mr. Appolonio, and front 
of the estate owned by Mr. Eames. 

Streets in Marshfield — Named in 18/6. 

In 1876 the streets in Marshfield were named by the fol- 
lowing committee, chosen by the town : Charles P. Wright, 
Stephen Gardner, Lysander S. Richards, Nathaniel Phillips, 
2d, Israel H. Hatch, Stephen Henry, William Harrington, 
and Joseph Sherman. The following report the town ac- 
cepted : 

"The street leading from Union bridge south through 
Corn Hill to Pembroke line near the house of Nathaniel 
Church, to be called "Union street." From the corner near 
William C. Oakman's, west to Gravelly Beach, "Corn Hill 
avenue." From the corner of the house of Albert Joyce on 
Union street, southwest to Pembroke line, "West street." 
From Rogers Corner past the Second Baptist church and 
Nathaniel Phillips, 2d, to Union street, "Highland street." 
From the house of the late James Touhey, southwest to 
Union street, at the house of Hiram A. Oakman. "Oak 
street." From the corner near the Unitarian church, 
southwest and south past Aaron Sampson's and 
Joyce schoolhouse to the corner at James Ford's, 



226 History of Marshiield. 

"Forest street." From the corner at the house of 

Warren Gardner,, to Forest street, "Valley street." 
From the corner of Samuel Hatch's mill, east across Forest 
street to Main street, "Pine street." From the South Bap- 
tist church, northeast past the Joyce schoolhouse to Main 
street, "School street." From Byron Simmons', southwest 
to Pembroke line, "Lone street." From the Pembroke line 
near the house of William Hall, past South Baptist church 
and James Ford's to the store of Luther P. Hatch, "Plain 
street." From Little's bridge, south through East Marsh- 
field village, past the Town poor house and Methodist church 
to H. C. Dunham's mill and South River bridge, "Main 
street." From the house of Enos Stoddard, west and south 
to Highland street, "Spring street." From the corner near 
the house of James Ford, east across Main street to the cor- 
ner at the house of Jessie L. Lewis, "Furnace street." From 
the corner near the house of John Magoun, south to the 
house of Simeon B. Chandler, "Crow street." From 
Hatch's Corner, northeast past Walker's mill to Enos Stod- 
dard's, "Summer street." From James L. Rogers' house, 
northeast to Walker's Pond, "Prospect street." From Ed- 
gar Hood's house, east past the bakery to Main street, "Bow 
street." From Rogers' Corner southeast to the lower rail- 
road bridge, opposite the late Tilden Ames' residence, 
"Pleasant street." From the Wales Tilden place and cor- 
ner C. Rodgers Richards' estate, southwest through Canoe 
Tree swamp, "Canoe Tree street." From Hatch's Corner, 
northeast and southeast to Ferry street, "Elm street." From 
Barstow Carver place to William Hall's, "Sea street." 
From Hatch's Corner, south to Keene's Corner, "Church 
street." From the Methodist church, northeast past Wins- 
low Conant's, the Ferry schoolhouse, and Samuel William- 
son's to the Ferry, "Ferry street." From the corner at the 
house of William Porter, northeast past George Bailey's, to 
the corner at the house of Benjamin F. Keene, "Grove 



History of Marshficld. 227 

street." From the corner at the Agricultural hall past 
Elijah Williamson's, William Sherman's, and Capt. Asa 
Sherman's, to the Ferry schoolhouse, '"South River street." 
From District No. 2 schoolhouse, northeast past Thomas 
Baker's to the corner, ''Willow street." From the corner 
near the house of Henry Sprague, north and west past the 
house of Peleg S. Kent to the Duxbury line, "Mount Skirgo 
street." From the Duxbury line, near the house of Joseph 
Sprague, east past Harvey Sprague's, Dr. George W. Bak- 
er's, and Marshfield postoffice, over Marshfield Neck and by 
the Beach to the termination of the streets south of Brant 
Rock village, "Ocean street." From the Marshfield post- 
office, past George M. Baker's and Samuel Shepherd's to 
the Duxbury line, by the house of Ichabod Weston, "Mo- 
raine street." From the corner near the house of John 
Church, southwest past John Baker's to the Duxbury line, 
near the house of Calvin Paine, "Acorn street." From the 
corner near the house of Edmund Hackett, west past the 
house of Hiram Butterfield to the Duxbury line, "Walnut 
street." From the corner east of the widow of Otis Barker, 
north past Curtis B. Goodsell's and Elijah Ames' to the 
Beach, "Winslow street." From the Marshfield station, 
east past R. H. Moorehead's and Charles P. Wright's to the 
corner bv the Winslow house. "Webster street." From the 
corner at the house of John A. Harlow, southwest past Chas. 
Sampson's to the corner at the house of Edmond Hackett, 
"Parsonage street." From Brant Rock village over the 
westerly part of Branches' Island, "Island street." From 
Cut River village, west past the W^inslow house and Green 
Harbor station to the Duxbury line, "Careswell street." 
From the corner near the Careswell place, south over Canal 
bridge to the Duxbury line, "Canal street." From the cor- 
ner near the house of Henry Cook, south to the Beach. 
"Beach street." From the corner near the house of Charles 
Sprague, through Cut River village to Beach street, "Mar- 



228 History of MarshUeld. 

ginal street." From the corner by the Webster house at 
Cut river to the house of Henry Tolman, "Central street." 
From the west end of Careswell street, southwest to the 
Duxbury Hne, "South street." The street past Warren T. 
Whiting's, commencing and terminating on Ocean street, 
"Rock street." The street across the corner from High- 
land street to Union street, "Short street." The street past 
Thomas Stevens' and Mrs. Fanny Crane's, commencing and 
terminating on Summer street, "Station street." 



CHAPTER LVII. 

Occupations. — Wayside Trees. 

The occupations of the citizens of Marshfield have been 
varied. In the 19th century, the calHngs were divided be- 
tween shipbuilding on the North river and agriculture, and 
many of our citizens worked for several years at East Bos- 
ton in the shipyards. There has been some shoe manufac- 
turing in town, but not on a very large scale. The main 
occupation of our people has been farming. Some of the 
farms here contain 300 acres, but it is generally conceded 
now that those unfortunate enough to own so large an area 
are ''land poor," for it has been found that small farms pay 
better than large. There have been a number of farmers 
who have made a business of producing milk, but today there 
are very few in that business, except those living near the 
beaches. 

For the past few years, the closing decade of the nine- 
teenth century, much attention has been paid to the cultiva- 
tion of the strawberry, so that today Marshfield strawberries 
sent to Boston markets are well known and have the name of 
being the finest berries sent there. A night express carries 
the berries to the Boston market. The larger part of the 
berries are raised at the northern end of the town. 
Trees on the Roadside. 

At Marshfield Hills the residents, half a century ago, and 
later, had an eye to the beauty of the village, and set out 
elm and maple trees on some of the principal streets, and 
today the large and stately elms and maples adorning the 
thoroughfares are the admiration of visitors who frequent 
the village on the Hills. The Rogers, the Weatherbees, 
and the Leonards were chiefly instrumental in planting them. 

229 



230 History of Marshfield. 

But a short time after the late Wales Rogers set the elms in 
front of his house, before the middle of the 19th century, 
a gentleman driving past in a chaise to visit Daniel Webster 
stopped and spoke admiringly to Mr. Rogers about his trees. 
"Why!" said Mr. Rogers, "some of the citizens here 
threaten to destroy them because they are on the outside of 
the sidewalk." The stranger spoke with emphasis: "My 
name is Judge Shaw (then the famous chief justice of the 
Massachusetts Supreme Court). If anybody harms those 
trees in the least, inform me at once, and I will attend to 
them. Those trees will be the beauty of the village." They 
were never disturbed. The late Elisha W. Hall bought and 
set out elm trees in vacant spots from the railroad station, 
along the street to the Unitarian meeting house, some ten 
years ago. At the same time Walton Hall bought and set 
out 500 elms along the street leading from Green Harbor 
towards South Marshfield. 



CHAPTER LVIII. 

MarshHeld Items. 

Temperance has always been the prevaiHng sentiment in 
Marshfield for many years. For a quarter of a century or 
more it has voted "no Hcense," except last year, 1900. And 
then the license element was defeated by a vote of the town 
being passed immediately afterwards, to make the license fee 
one million dollars, and also voted to appropriate $5,000 to 
enforce 'the law, but the chief obstacle that prevented the 
liquor dealers from obtaining a license was that the Board 
of Selectmen would not grant a license, and hence the town 
was practically no-license. 

A representative to the General Court from this district 
represents five towns. At present it includes Duxbury, 
Marshfield, Pembroke, Norwell, and Scituate; the district is 
called the Second Plymouth Representative District. Re- 
publicans are largely in the majority throughout the district, 
and at present Mr. Charles N. Gardner, of Norwell, repre- 
sents the district in the Legislature. 

Before the South Shore Railroad was built, in early days, 
Jedediah Little ran a public chaise, a two-wheel vehicle, from 
Marshfield to Boston, to accommodate the traveling public. 
He was a man of considerable nerve, and upon one occasion 
his leg was so badly injured that amputation became neces- 
sary. While the surgeons were arranging matters in an 
adjoining room for the operation, Mr. Little was telling 
stories to some one by his side, and when the surgeons en- 
tered to prepare him for the operation, he looked up and 
said: "Oh, yes; I had forgotten you," and they proceeded 
with the amputation without any more words. 

A Mr. Hatch followed him in the passenger service. After 

231 



232 History of MarshHeld. 

the South Shore road was built from Braintree to Cohasset, 
a stage was run by Charles Hatch and his brother, Franklin, 
W. Hatch, from Cohasset station to Marshfield, and the ar- 
rival of the stage at the different villages along the route, 
was daily the signal for stirring times among the villagers to 
witness and greet the new arrivals. When the Duxbury 
& Cohasset railroad was built, the stage route was aban- 
doned. 

Tangible evidence can be seen today that the Indians had 
their habitations and "hunting grounds" in Marshfield, for 
we are constantly finding Indian implements, in the form of 
arrow heads, spear heads, stone pestles, and stone hammers. 
The author has found some of these on his erounds, and so 
have others on their land. Dr. Stephen Henry of Marsh- 
field, who is much interested in Indian relics, has in his office 
a large collection of these implements, found in various lo- 
calities of the town, ranging from arrow heads, in large 
numbers, to spear heads, stone hammers, axes, pestles, and 
other implements. Not only was there game for the Indians 
on the marshes, as birds, etc., but the woods were teeming 
with other game, and the North river abundantly stocked 
with fish. 

One of the most noted men of Marshfield in the days of 
the Revolution was Capt. Luther Little. He was a sea- 
faring man, and probably passed through more stirring 
scenes in his life than any man living in the precincts of 
Marshfield. He began young in his career. At the age 
of ten he and some other boys about his home at Littletown 
(now Sea View) thought they would go for a swim in one 
of those narrow streams not far from the shore. When 
their swim was completed, young Little hastened for his 
clothes, and lo, and behold, they were not there, for the tide 
had come up during the bath and floated them to the sea. 
There was nothing for him to do but to take as concealed 
a path as he could find and make for his home with all possi- 



History of Marshfield. 233 

ble speed, as naked as when he came into the world; as soon 
as his home was reached, he stealthily crept unobserved up 
stairs and crawled into bed. His mother at last discovered 
his whereabouts, and upon inquiry why he was in bed, he 
told her he was sick, and thereupon she made him some herb 
tea. "And thus," said he, "I escaped a severe whipping." 
When he became old he said he had been through a great 
many scrapes, but he never felt so bad as when he lost that 
suit of clothes. 

[He passed through a great many hairbreadth escapes in 
his many voyages between here and Russia, but I will only 
mention some of the stirring historic scenes of the sea dur- 
ing the Revolution, which are unrecorded in history. He 
was my wife's, Miriam's, grandfather. A sketch of the 
events was written in manuscript by a friend as he related 
them a year before he died, at the age of 83.] 

"We arrived at Martinique, W. I., in fourteen days, 
[In the early days of the Revolution.] where the com- 
mittee of North Carolina sent for powder and balls. 
While we lay here we were obliged to observe the law, which 
required a French captain on board. An English frigate 
lay near, who sent her barge and lieutenant on board to make 
prize of our sloop. The lieutenant ordered the anchors up, 
to tow her alongside the frigate. Our French captain drove 
him forward with a handspike, and would have knocked out 
his brains had he not returned." 

"When nearing North Carolina twelve American pilot 
boats came out and took our powder and balls, and informed 
us that the King's tender lay waiting to take us." Little's 
vessel had to surrender, but through some skilful manage- 
ment Little escaped, but the captain and the rest of the crew 
were taken prisoners, and carried to Norfolk. 

"While crossing the woods one morning here," Captain 
Little says, "I was chased by a wild boar and was obliged 
(he being close to my heels) to climb a tree. Here I re- 

Marshfield 



234 History of Marshiield. 

mained half an hour, he biting the trunk the while, and then 
disappeared." 

He next shipped on board a brig bound for Cadiz, Spain, 
Tobias Oakman, master. Before the vessel reached port it 
was wrecked. He says : "I was washed from the quarter- 
deck over her bows forward, where I caught hold of the 
topmast staysail downhaul, and hauled myself on to the 
wreck. After getting on to the wreck, I found that one 
of my legs was broken." After striking against the rocks 
they all lashed themselves to the after part of the vessel. 
Nothing remained but the stern posts and quarterdeck, to 
which they were lashed. They remained in this perilous 
situation fifteen hours, when the gale abated. 

Captain Little's leg being broken, he was carried by two 
men to a castle on the farther end of the reef, near Lisbon, 
and in a few days was removed to a hospital in that city, 
where he was obliged to remain for six months. His broken 
leg was so badly swollen on the wreck that the shoe belong- 
ing to the foot of that leg did not wash away, and lucky it 
was for the captain that it did not. Before he left Marsh- 
field he had a pair of shoes made and had a number of gold 
sovereigns placed between the lifts of the heel, concealed 
and well secured. This shoe he had placed under his pillow 
in the hospital, and when he recovered, these sovereigns, in 
traveling through Spain over three hundred miles to a port, 
in search of a vessel for the United States, saved him from 
starvation, in the purchase of food, etc. He found a chance 
to go to America by entering on the brig Rambler, Captain 
Stevens. He applied to John Jay, minister to Spain, for 
provisions for the ship, and after some delay and doubt he 
obtained them and sailed from Cadiz to America. 

"After thirty days out," he says, "we saw an English pri- 
vateer schooner coming towards us, by the help of her 
sweeps. She was on the starboard side. We shifted our 
guns over to that side to make out the tier. Captain Stev- 



History of Marshiield. 235 

ens ordered us to our quarters. When the privateer came 
up to us, we gave her a broadside. She fired upon us, 
then dropped astern, and came up on the larboard side. As 
soon as the guns would bear upon her we gave her another 
broadside. They returned the same. The privateer, giv- 
ing up the contest, dropped astern and made off, we giving 
her three cheers." 

He returned to his home at Littletown, Marshfield. and 
after remaining there a short while, in 1780 he entered on 
board the United States ship Protector, of 26 guns (crew, 
230), as midshipman and prize master. She was com- 
manded by John F. Williams, of Boston. He says : "My 
brother, George Little of Marshfield (occupying the estate 
now^ owned by Enos Stoddard, near Little's bridge, where 
his son, Edward Little, representative and town clerk many 
years, lived) was first lieutenant. They were on a six 
months' cruise. After a short time out in the direction of 
Newfoundland, they met an English vessel called the Ad- 
miral Duff, of 1 100 tons burden, with 36 twelve-pounders on 
the gun deck, and furnished with 250 men, Richard Strange, 
master. 

"After passing a little by to the leeward, she hove to under 
fighting sail. She prepared for action. Very soon I heard 
the sailing master call for his trumpet and cried, 'Let fall the 
foresail, sheet home the maintop gallantsail.' We steered 
down across her stern and hauled up under her lee quarter. 
At the same time we were breeching our guns aft to bring 
her to bear. The captain ordered a broadside given, and 
colors changed, the thirteen stripes took the place of the 
English ensign on our ship, they gave us three cheers and 
fired a broadside. They partly overshot us, their ship being 
so much higher than ours, cutting away some of our rigging. 
The action commenced within pistol shot and now began a 
regular battle, broadside to broadside. After we had en- 
gaged one half hour, there came a cannon ball through one 



236 History of MarshHeld. 

side and killed Mr. Scolley, one of our midshipmen. He 
commanded the fourth 12-pounder from the stern, myself 
commanded the third. The ball took him in the head, his 
brains flew upon my gun and into my face. The man at 
my gun who rammed down the charge was a stout Irishman, 
Immediately upon the death of Mr. Scolley, he stripped his 
shirt and exclaimed : *An' faith, if they kill me, they shall 
tuck no rags into me.' 

"The action continued about an hour, when all the topmen 
on board the enemy's ship were killed by our marines. Our 
marines killing the man at the wheel caused the ship to come 
down upon us ; her cathead stove in our quarter gallery. We 
lashed their jibboom to our main shrouds. Our marines 
from the quarterdeck firing into their portholes, kept them 
from charging. We were ordered from our quarters on 
board, but before we were able, the lashing broke. We 
were ordered back to quarters to charge the ship, shooting 
alongside of us, the yards nearly locked. We gave her a 
broadside, which cut away her mizzenmast and made great 
havoc among them. We perceived her sinking, at the 
same time saw her maintop gallantsail on fire, which ran 
down the rigging and caught a hogshead of cartridges under 
the quarterdeck and blew it off. At this time there came 
into the port where I commanded a charge of grapeshot. I 
was wounded ; one between my neck bone and windpipe, one 
through my jaw, lodging in the roof of my mouth and tak- 
ing off a piece of my tongue, the other through the upper 
lip, taking a part of the lip and all of my upperteeth." [An 
oil portrait of him in the old homestead, still existing, shows 
this wound in the lip.] 

"I was immediately taken to the cockpit, to the surgeon. 
My gun was fired only once afterward ; I had fired nineteen 
times. I lay unattended, being considered mortally 
wounded. I was perfectly sensible and heard the surgeon's 
remark, 'Let Little lav; attend to the others first; he will die.' 



History of MarshHeld. 237 

Perceiving me motion, the surgeon came to me and washed 
o£f the blood. I bled profusely, the surgeon thought two 
gallons. I was placed in my berth. By this time the ene- 
my's ship had sunk. My brother, the first lieutenant, said 
to me that such was the pride of the enemy, when on the 
brink of a watery grave, they fought like demons, preferring 
death with the rest of their comrades, rather than captivity, 
and that it was with much difficulty that many of them were 
forced into our boats, several even made the attempt to jump 
overboard." 

"We sailed for the coast of Nova Scotia. After cruising 
a week we discovered a large ship steering for us. We saw 
she was a large English frigate. The frigate made for us 
fast. When she came up near to us, we fired four stern 
chasers, and kept firing, the ship in chase. When she got 
near our stern, she luffed and gave us a broadside. It did 
no other damage save one shot lodging in the mainmast, and 
cutting away some rigging. By this time we gained ahead 
of her. W'e made a running fire till dark, the enemy 

choosing not to come alongside. At eight in the evening 
she left and hauled her wind to the southward, we to the 
north. The following morning she was seen in the dis- 
tance, sailing on her course." 

"After arriving at port at five in the afternoon, we dis- 
covered a large, black snake coming down from out the 
bushes abreast the ship. He took to the water and swam by 
us. We judged him to be forty feet long and his middle 
the size of a man's body. He carried his head fourteen 
feet above water. We manned a barge and went in chase 
of him. When fired at, he would dive like a sea fowl. 
They chased him a mile and a half, firing continually. The 
snake landed at Lowd's Island and disappeared in the 
woods." 

Captain Little returned to his home in Marshfield and 
soon after re-engaged on the same ship, passing through 



238 History of MarsMeld. 

several more victorious naval battles. He became captain 
of several large vessels and sailed the seas years after. His 
grandchildren, Luther and Miss Joanna Little, occupy the 
same dwelling that he lived in, v^here his father and great- 
grandfather lived before him. It was built two or three 
generations before the Revolution. The captain's Old Col- 
ony ancestors owned originally a tract of land extending 
from Little's bridge to White's Ferry. 

Post Offices. 
There are seven post offices in Marshfield as follows: 
Marshfield Hills, Ella Damon, postmistress. Marshfield, 
Augustus Bosworth, postmaster. Sea View, Chester 
Ewell, postmaster. North Marshfield, Carlton Tilden, 
postmaster. Standish, A. R. Magoun, postmaster. Brant 
Rock, Walter Peterson, postmaster. Green Harbor, Chas. 
McLaughlin, postmaster. 



